It's not yet known what Flight 1420 weighed when it touched down, or what was in its cargo bay besides luggage. That entails digging through 65 tons of metal and an inch-thick computer printout detailing the particulars of the flight. There's no telling what we'll find in here. Flight 1420's weight will tell investigators how successful the landing could have been if the plane's spoilers had been deployed. The more weight, the more it would have slowed the airplane's headlong rush down and off the runway.
Airplanes are dynamic.
To this point, the focus is on the spoilers, panels on the back edges of the wings that raise to slow the plane and reduce lift. Operated by hydraulic hoses, the spoilers begin their drag against the wind when the wheels on the landing gear begin to turn, at the first tire rotation. If the landing gear malfunctions, and the tires don't roll, a backup plan is available. When the nose touches down, the compression activates piston rods that push the spoilers up. Without the lift, gravity kicks in, and the weight of the plane itself works as another braking component.