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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Is there any evidence why the plane turned around in New York?[/quote]

That was the approach to the airport. When there was no one to actually land the plane, it just kept on going on the same heading [/quote]

Sorry, to clarify: if the plane didn’t land at the originally planned location. (New York?), the autopilot would automatically send the plan back to where it originated?
Not a pilot here, trying to understand![/quote]

(I didn't see this answered elsewhere, sorry if this is a duplicate...)
Not generally, no, but it depends on the specific autopilot system AND how the pilot configured the flight plan for that specific flight.

What probably happened in this case is that the pilot programmed the autopilot to a waypoint near the airport, actually just past it, and then had the autopilot programmed to turn onto a 'final approach course' that aligns with the runway that is intended to be used for landing.  That final approach course actually had the airplane pointed at the airport, but also back at its point of departure.  Normally, at that point, the pilot would be managing the altitude according to ATC instructions, so a descent wouldn't be programmed in (and, because the pilot usually manages altitude according to ATC instructions, most autopilots aren't designed with the ability to do so - especially older ones).  In this case, with the pilot unconscious, the plane stayed at altitude while it made its turn over the final waypoint and back toward the airport.  Then when it passed the airport, still at altitude, it just kept going on that heading.  That it pointed back generally toward its departure point is most likely somewhat of a coincidence.

I have no knowledge of this specific system, or (obviously) what the pilot programmed, just guessing based on normal procedures.

As to why the plane disintegrated on impact - that likely means it was traveling in a straight vertical descent, high rate of speed, very low lateral velocity (nosedive or spin).  When a plane impacts at more of a shallow angle, the debris spreads over a larger area and bigger pieces remain intact.  The NTSB will eventually tell us how/why this descent probably occurred.  But be warned, it will take years for them to release a final report.  This is totally normal and not an indication of any kind of conspiracy, they just work at a very methodical pace through mountains of hardware, data, and analysis.

If the plane had been shot down or broke apart mid-flight, debris would be scattered over a very large area.  A concentrated impact zone indicates it was intact until impact. Browse the NTSB accident report database for a while, you'll find plenty of examples.  [/quote]

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