[E. Pluribus Unum]

And it took THREE MINUTES to fall???

Terminal velocity through the atmosphere is approximately 150 mph, depending on the aerodynamic properties of the falling body. Based on this estimate, it would take an object 3 minutes to fall from 40,000 feet.

That is in the ballpark.

[irish guard]

Wrong ballpark. most commercial planes, if any ever fly at 40,000 feet. more likely they were at 30,000- 33,000 feet. how long would it take then?

[Sloth]

Terminal velocity through the atmosphere is approximately 150 mph, depending on the aerodynamic properties of the falling body.

VERY dependent. We are talking about an object that routinely travels *500 mph* horizontally under, say, 80,000 - 90,000 lbs of thrust, but which weighs 200,000 lbs or so.

[steve-b]

Terminal velocity through the atmosphere is approximately 150 mph, depending on the aerodynamic properties of the falling body.

Puh-leeze. The "falling body" in this case is an airframe DESIGNED TO TRAVEL RAPIDLY THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE. Its terminal velocity would be fairly close to Mach 1.

[sam_paine]

Terminal velocity through the atmosphere is approximately 150 mph, depending on the aerodynamic properties of the falling body

You are a ding dong. Yes that is ad hominem.

"Terminal velocity" for any airliner under power or not will be far in excess of 150mph. By it's nature, an aircraft does not need to be below stall speeed to "fall out of the sky"....it can also "fly into the ground."

At 500mph, 40,000 feet is less than a minute. If the aircraft was "flying erratically and losing altitude" after turning around....then it was not at 40,000 feet.

[null and void]

Terminal velocity through the atmosphere is approximately 150 mph, depending on the aerodynamic properties of the falling body.

That's terminal velocity for a falling HUMAN body. Not very aerodynamic. A nice smooth object will fall faster...