Some data was transmitted in real-time to the Airbus maintenance facility. That's how we know (for example) that the pitot tubes appear to have failed, that the

Some data was transmitted in real-time to the Airbus maintenance facility. That's how we know (for example) that the pitot tubes appear to have failed, that the autopilot disengaged, it switched to alternate flight laws, etc. Of course, satellite comm requires various things like intact antennas pointing the right direction. On-board recording does not.