I don't think that any aircraft may deep-stall at 500 knots, losing 35,000 ft without depressurization, cover 40+ miles in 4 minutes, while making a 180 steep turn, and hit the water in one piece without horizontal speed!
Hi Takata.
If the ACARS at 02.10h allow the conclusion that the aircraft was at a max. altitude of 14,000f at this point in time, don't we have to assume that they must have left FL350 before 02.10h?
In the BEA report (JUL-2009, p. 49) is stated that the last position message (AOC) was sent at 2h 10m 34s transmitting the FM position. It is not stated that the a/c transmitted its altitude hereby.
*message-timing by the CMC is accurate to within one minute
*the order in which these messages are transmitted does not necessarily
correspond to the associated sequence of events
*
(BEA, JUL-2009, p. 51)
Denis