Thanks iceman 51 for the links to the photos. Can't help but notice the wing floating on the ocean has lots of buoyancy, so much that with the inboard leading edge only just submerged the wing trailing edge is well clear of the water surface to the extent that the flap pivot fairings are only just touching the water. With the mass of the wing, engines, props, gear and the centre section of the fuselage dragging it down something is providing enough buoyancy to keep it all afloat. Presumably the wing internal cavities are all vented and would flood, leaving to my simple mind only empty or nearly empty fuel tanks (6,400 litres capacity according to specs for ATR72 but don't know the exact model) providing buoyancy to keep it all afloat. Anyone who knows the aeroplane care to comment?
Heard today but have absolutely no verification; the aeroplane loaded 3,000 litres (2,400 kgs) for the flight to Bari. For the return, at Bari was topped with 240 kgs (300 litres), could it have been that the intention was to load 2,400kgs and that for the loss of a zero an incorrect amount was loaded with consequent tragic results? An intriguing thought but coupled with the buoyancy keeping the wreckage afloat....
Well, it is a rumour network!
DoT