[EggsAckley]

Even if both engines were hit, the crew should have had enough time to
throttle back and declare an emergency.

Eggsackley! THAT is why we need to hear the cockpit tape.
IF it were a flock of birds, wouldn't the pilots notice that
and make mention of it BEFORE the engines fell off?

[concerned about politics]

IF it were a flock of birds, wouldn't the pilots notice that and make mention of it BEFORE the engines fell off?

Good point. The recoreder would say something like #$^%$&, look at all the %$#@&**^%$$## birds!

What about the dumping fuel story? That failed too.