[Boeing Guy]

Sorry guys but the MD-80 is in service with both American Airlines, they have over 200 and Delta Airlines over 100.

Although the DC-9 family can trace it's root's back to the late 1960's, the MD-80 has only been in service since 1980, over 900 still in service and over 2000 of the DC-9 family, Boeing 737's are from the 60's as are 747's. Airbus have stuff nearly as old as well.

Europe, JAA ( shortly to be called EASA) are very stringent on their safety and checks, it the FAA had banned this aircraft you could be sure that the JAA would have followed suit.

It is very easy to come to conclusions when these things happen, but as a professional, I know that accidents are never one fault but a series of problems (a chain of events) cause these things.

The fact is this, commercial airliners fly all the time with things inop, we have a list called the Minimum Equipment List, this allows us to take off with all manner of things inop. You would be supprised and maybe a bit worried. The pilot's, who died, will not take off unless they think the aircraft is safe, end of.
I will wait to see the report as speculation helps no one.