Originally Posted by
DenverBrian
That scenario would seem to point to a much faster crash/impact with the water, much closer to home, rather than in the southern Indian Ocean, however. Unless the fire just went out on its own, which sounds quite unlikely.
We can surmise their fate endlessly and until the wreckage is found, it will be speculation only. One further speculation on an electrical fire (or more generally a cockpit fire)..the current protocol is to turn switches and remove breakers and see if the smokes subsides as an indicator of extinguishing the fire..they could have succeeded in finding the source and suppressed the fire but by that time have succumbed. if it is a wiring fire (i.e. kapton) they can be self extinguishing once the wiring insulation is gone and no additional consumables like mylar blankets are nearby.