For MATKAT:
This is not the first slide/raft or whatever which has departed an Icelandic (AAI) aircraft. The slide you lost during Hadj was followed by another in 1999 on a ferry flight from LUX-MSP.
As a fairly junior F/O, I could not believe that the Icelandic Captain didn't feel compelled, nor obligated, to even report it after landing in Manston. The only indication we had was an overwing door open light climbing thru 8000'. No pressurization problems encountered , so off we went. The ground crew in Manston just stood back and pointed as we taxied in.
Somehow, dropping a couple hundred kilo's of orange & yellow rubber over the Ardennes wasn't important enough to even tell anyone. I have always wondered where it landed? No reports from news or company.... or some lucky Belgian kids have been using it for rafting the Meuse?
It boggles.....i