But without clear-cut data from the plane "s cockpit-voice or flight-data recorders, it may be hard for investigators to conclusively back up pilot assertions or precisely determine what happened."

And its revenues could be hit hard as many of the big overseas markets, such as Argentina and Brazil, get crushed and its U. S. consumers increasingly cut back on spending.

But without clear-cut data from the plane's cockpit-voice or flight-data recorders, it may be hard for investigators to conclusively back up pilot assertions or precisely determine what happened.