Further, Atlanta ATC assumed they had lost two of their three engines, and continued routine handling of their flight.
Do you have a source for that?
The CVR does not confirm this and I don't recall this coming up in the Public hearing.
arguably the ATC handling sounded routine although helpful to all requests. "you've got our squawk on emergency?... I'm not receiving it but radar contact position is ..."
"allright listen we have lost both engines and I can't tell you the implications of this we've only got two engines and how far is Dobins ...."