Originally Posted by damirc
Consider three factors that would arrest momentum in the NNE direction of the flight as it was supposed to be flying at 30,000+ feet.
1. Aircraft was most likely not in controlled flight (more likely stalled). Had the stall been a simple "nose falls stall" it would a) have been more recoverable and b) likely been arrested before impact with the sea during the five mile plummet.
2. An upset/stall is likely to develop a rotational feature. The more the aircraft rotates, or has a post stall gyration, the less likely "initial heading" can be preserved during X rotations from 30,000+ feet to 0 feet.
3. Debris field has been subject to various oceanic influence, which were not necessarily aligned with the direction of flight. Unlike a crash that hits the ground, final resting place of this aircraft
after impact will move ... in this case, due to both wind and water mass movements.
Put another way, I'd be stunned if the debris field were to have coincided with the selected course (NNE) that was to take the flight to Paris. Had they been able to maintain course/heading, I doubt they'd have crashed at all.