You are welcome. I am glad to be of service in the search for truth, whatever that is.

I read Belluck's story in early 2002 at the central library in downtown Portland, Oregon, and copied it, but I have since misplaced my copy. I saved myself a trip and shelled out $2.95 to purchase the story directly from The New York Times.

It is difficult to believe that combustible articles could have survived such a conflagration. However, chunks of the airliners (and chunks of people on board) were recovered -- the airliners were not completely atomized.

I have seen news photos and video of other airline crashes revealing debris of all kinds.

What is the recovery and failure rate of airliner black boxes?