Originally Posted by
Shadoko
In the same categorie : as the wreckage area on sea bed seems small, the wreckage at sea level just after the impact had to be small also. So how could it be ignored if the place was trully searched? (no mismatch, it is not a critic to search teams, just a question).
I think you need to look at the time of the incident and the time the search really going - more than 7 hours later? - i suspect the wreckage was 'over the horizon' W/NW of the LKP when they first overflew the track from LKP to the 'Estimated final ACARS transmission' which we later learnt was just extrapolated to be some 8NM off-track - 40NM further on. Guess they were also looking for a ditched aircraft and life-rafts early on.
As the search was widened it appears the wreckage moved back towards the LKP, possibly seen South of the LKP?, and then North till it caught up with the search and by then was spread out over more than 100NM.