I’ve read that theory. But the RAT deployed seems to point in another direction. Like some control system failure was underway. Gear and flaps lever are probably not close to each other. The video definitely shows a point where the jet seems to significantly (completely?) lose power. But the vid of it passing by with engines thrusting and RAT making propeller sounds doesn’t make sense. I would think it’s one or the other. Plane is likely fly by wire. Flap and gear controls would be electric up in the cockpit and hydraulic at the point of actuation (hydro electric). If there were some major hydraulic system failure, Maybe the RAT was deployed (automatically) to try to build pressure…and the reason gear and flaps were out of position was no hydraulic pressure (RAT) could not build needed pressure. Anyone know if the engines were still thrusting when it hit?
Theories are maturing / evolving. Link provided here to an airline Captain discussing the (better) video with sound (can now tell the engines weren’t thrusting). One commenter offers some excellent insights into what might have happened. Bottom line, very hot day, forward electronics compartment has auto-shut down function in the event of over-heat. In that compartment is the engine fuel pump controller. So the theory is the aircraft shut off fuel to it’s engines and that triggered the RAT to deploy. The surviving passenger said the engines (in his own language / different words) couldn’t get revolutions.
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