Oxygen-powered missiles
Almost 50 years experience as SLF, but no formal training in any aspect of aviation. However, I do have experience of system design in other fields and some exposure to mechanical design.
If I were designing a piping system fed by multiple high-pressure gas bottles, I would expect to connect each bottle through a non-return valve. That way it would be possible to remove a bottle whilst leaving others in place and without depressurising the whole system.
Can anyone advise us whether oxygen gas systems on aircraft in general and on the 744 in particular have such fittings? If they do, that could explain why one bottle could escape without the emergency oxygen system failing completely.
If a free-flying oxygen cylinder turns out to have contributed to this event, can we expect to see AD to move all such potential missile outside the pressure vessel?