Originally Posted by
Lyman
Mention airframe damage, and the gallery frowns and stomps its feet, likewise computer failure of massive nature.
Only once the evidence came back that suggested pretty conclusively that neither had occurred. Prior to that the most accurate thing anyone could say was that it was unlikely, and attempt to explain why it was unlikely with the facts at their disposal (as I did).
It's one thing to think outside the box in an open-minded fashion - but what tends to be the case in any incident or accident involving Airbus is that some people - usually the same people each time - will approach the problem with a pre-conceived conclusion in mind to support a personal agenda which pre-dates that particular incident.
@chrisN - I don't think they ever got roll under control in any meaningful sense, because the PF was trying to use fistfuls of aileron throughout the sequence. Prior to the stall gentle aileron may have been effective, but post-stall the only thing that can effectively control roll is rudder.