Machinbird;
Yes, an Emirates A340-500 had a tailstrike at Melbourne. The preliminary report is
here. The DFDR broke loose due to failed latches when the tail struck the runway (after a weight > speeds miscalculation). The report has a photograph of the DFDR mounting box and the DFDR, which fell rearwards, through an opening and below to the floor, (lower skin). It always remained with the aircraft.
Bobman84;
The operation should take three weeks to a month, and will be paid for by the French government at an estimated cost of 5 million euros ($7.1 million), he said.
To place in some perspective the costs of searches and estimated recovery, over the four years it took to complete the recovery and investigation of the Swissair 111 MD11 accident at Peggy's Cove, Halifax, the Canadian TSB spent approximately CAD$57m.
PJ2