it. and once we find it if we get the recorders we ll then learn what. and learning what we ll be able to progress to why. how credible do you believe it is at this point that the plane just suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure, period? i initially thought that with the dribbling amount of evidence they gave us. but now i changed my mind. i don t think that is true. i think the aircraft lasted beyond the point at which the transponders went off. and what do you o as you ty to investigate that how closely is as an ntsb guy would you be looking at the pilots and people on board? do we automatically go to the pilots, in other words? well, yes, but our reason for going to these people is not to indict them but to find out how they are leading the aircraft to where we can find it. because the key here is still to find the wreckage, wherever it is. do you believe the crew is still alive? more than likely not would be my position on that.