How do you loose an airplane ?

[greybeard]

An 'unconfirmed' report today said "the plane most likely stalled, while it was at 36,000 ft and climbing, but traveling at an airspeed of only 105mph--too slow to support flight in a climb". Permitted altitude was supposed to be 32,000' the pilot had asked permission to climb to 38K altitude, but was denied that permission because of other a/c at 38K'. The "experts" believe the data suggests the pilot climbed anyway and went into stall conditions.

You will have to watch the video:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/29/world/asi ... ing-plane/

 

[Kingfisher]

So if it stalled at that altitude wouldn't there be enough room to recover?

 

[Nesikep]

There *should* be enough room, if they realize it (sometimes the stick shaker isn't enough of a clue).. Also, if they were going through high humidity, it could have temporarily clogged the pitot tubes and screwed with instrumentaion.
From somewhere in the 35,000 ft range, Air France lost a big Airbus from stalling.. It was flight 447 on June 1 2009... It belly flopped into the sea.