John Farley:
Well said. The only reason I got into this was the 'obsession' in local media here in New York with the 'engine fell off and it crashed' theory (if one can dignify that with the term 'theory').
E cam:
That's what I found worrying about the image - there is no evidence whatever of damage to the stab. One might expect considerable impact damage if another part had hit it, causing the separation. If it failed from aerodynamic forces, one might expect twisting, buckling, skin damage, or midspan failure.
None of this is seen, it is *as if* the loss of the stab was *perhaps* the first stage in the accident, with the engine separation etc. occuring as a consequence of the overstress and breakup that would follow.
LATEST: *everything* you read here - my own posts NOT excluded - is worth precisely what you've paid for it. Just don't make the 'engine failed/fell off' assumption and go with it - this needs MUCH more investigation.