[ScreamingFist]

"Because the tail section fell off first"

Where did you read this?

[loveliberty]

"Because the tail section fell off first"

Pictures of the upright tail section were shown repeatedly being pulled out of Jamaica Bay--which indicates clearly that it came off first, inasmuch as the crash location in Queens is further along in the flight path.

It showed no damage, by the way.

[EggsAckley]

"Because the tail section fell off first" Where did you read this?

It's been in too many articles to even quote, AND it was reported by most of the eyewitnesses.