Ditch Switch Redundant
The pic in the newspaper link shows awful damage to the aft belly. Looks like the water entered farther forward, and blasted its way out just forward of the empennage connection. It's a wonder the thing floated as long as it did.
Does the A320 have blowout plugs between cabin and cargo like required after the 1973(?) THY DC-10 accident, so a lower area depressurization doesn't collapse the floor? In other words, might the plane have floated longer if the aft cabin door hadn't been partially opened by a passenger? Or would plugs have given way and flooded the cabin anyhow?
Although designed to withstand only cabin pressure, the plane itself should have the potential to be a flotation device.
GB