I think youre talking about a different FOT......there is a new one, although I too havent read it yet.
I wonder how may here have actually flown an A343 out of JNB.
In fact 3T can make a huge difference to the take-off performance. Please remember that JNB is often ISA+25 and is 5000ft AMSL. The poor old CFMs are really hurting. Last minute payload adjustments for 1-2deg temp changes are very common.
I wonder if anyone has the METAR or ATIS info from JNB on the day of this incident? What time of day do EK depart JNB?
The 3T being loaded aft is a red herring as when the A340 is perf limited then the CofG is moved beyond 26%. In this case a whole new set of RTOW charts needs to be used....... or if the crew are using ACARS RTOW then they need to be very careful with the numbers they put in the box. It is possible to get large errors in V speeds.
What ever the causal factors....and they will all come out in the wash...... well done to the crew for recovering a very very nasty situation.