Originally Posted by
Exoixx
Apologies if this is a dumb question (this is definitely not my area of expertise) but I remember reading that it was possible the 18:25 ACARS log on request could possibly have been triggered by a sharp turn? Would it then fit that the plane may have turned south at 18:25, meaning it would definitely have completed the turn and be flying south by 18:40?
We have a bunch of packets at 18:28 with BFOs consistent with being on the northwesterly heading.
There are other possible interpretations - BFOs are strongly affected by vertical speed, so it could be that it was headed south while climbing (there are irregularities in 18:25 .. 18:28 period indicative of climbing) - but the simplest one is that the turn took place after 18:28 and before 18:40.