Comment by sillysaurusx
2 days ago
Sadly not. It’s a physical switch with no capability of a remote toggle. The flight data recorder clearly shows one was toggled off within a second of the other, which rules out almost every non-intentional scenario.
Happily not. If this were possible, it would open up a whole universe of problems.
Is this a switch that has a dedicated connection to the corresponding cutoff valve? Or does it go through some common digital bus that passes commands? If so, how well is this bus protected?
Another commentator has pointed out that the flight data recorder records two signals - one for the switch itself, and one for the actual valve movement.
I take your point that we should always be suspicious of complicated, digital buses, and this is not the final report, so there’s still plenty of time to uncover weirdness. However, if the flight date reporter shows the switch being thrown, and then a few milliseconds later, shows the valve starting to close, and the same sequence happening shortly there after on the second switch and valve, I feel this would really limit the likelihood of any digital shenanigans.
Ok but you used 'sadly' incorrectly I presume.
What if he mistook the switch for a different switch?
It's an entirely different shape, different location, and different motion from any other switch they could be looking for. Suicide is a way more likely explanation.
And, it's _two_ switches.