Originally Posted by
jugofpropwash
Could a structural failure/rupture (whether "minor" such as a baggage door or "major" such as Aloha Airlines Flight 243) cause both an interruption in communications as well as a degrading ability (hydraulics leak?) to control the aircraft? Age of aircraft and number of cycles might be a factor?
I understand fuselage cracks have been detected in A320s of this vintage, so you couldn't rule it out. But not can you rule out a whole host of other possibilities.