5022 was an MD-80 series (MD-83 I believe). I can't tell from this article if they are suggesting that a virus disabled the takeoff warning system, or if flaps and slats were commanded to take off position and a virus prevented movement but provided a "correct" TO indication.

One theory would suggest an element of, uh.... "human factors". The other is just scary as hell. It hard to imagine a virus overcoming bell cranks, cables, and sequence valves on a non-FBW aircraft.

Anyone have insight as to what factor the virus may have played?