Originally Posted by
RatherBeFlying
A microburst can certainly upset the flight path without warning, and there is a tendency to blame the crew for mishandling until the data is analyzed - been there.
There are a plethora of data sources flying about. What will count is the fdr or QAR, especially since they offer sub second resolution.
Assuming they kept those records...
I guess I am thinking this really happened. It sounds like the captain coming on the PA and saying "you might have felt a couple of Gs" is indication that there was indeed a steep descent and immediate ascent. I also suspect that he didn't pick that number randomly and likely lowballed it (natural human tendency in a situation like this). The fact that this statement was made along with the FR24 data, and the pilots receiving retraining makes me fairly certain that what has been floated (incorrect flap retraction / loss of lift / recovery) is the most likely scenario. I am curious whether UA preserved the FDR data and/or CVR data.