News Contact lost with 777-200ER of Malaysia Airlines

[Michkov]

What counts as a find? A plane doesn't stay in a single piece, crashing in the ocean after all.

 

[Urwumpe]

What counts as a find? A plane doesn't stay in a single piece, crashing in the ocean after all.

I'd say an intact wing box can be likely, same for the engines. Also it depends on how they crashed. From "Torn to pieces" to "broke up in large chunks" everything is possible on the ocean. But no intact landing like on the Hudson. And even the badly battered AirFrance 440 resulted in identifiable wreckage in a small debris field.

EDIT: And of course, the landing gear could also stay intact!

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Finding the flight data recorder would certainly count, but I think that would require a miracle.

 

[Urwumpe]

Finding the flight data recorder would certainly count, but I think that would require a miracle.

If they find the wreckage, chances are high that they find them. Also if they find the cockpit and the aircraft only bellyflopped into the ocean, the less protected recorder might also have stayed intact enough to be read.

 

[Buck Rogers]

And of course, the landing gear could also stay intact!

The first thing that jumped out to me seeing the pictures of the Germanwings crash again was the fully intact landing gear sticking out of the wreckage pile!