God spare us the amateur experts. This forum is supposed to be for "A haven for professional helicopter pilots to discuss the things that affect them." Please if you are not a professional pilot then stop speculating, the media just love it.
Steve was a friend to many of us, I have some very happy memories of working and socialising with Steve, and through bitter experience can imagine the pain his familly and close colleagues are going through.
To all at Atlas, all of us here in this company (Mike knows who I am) are thinking of you and are here for anything should you need us.