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Their early calculations suggested that while the landing gear's drag increased fuel consumption, they still had enough fuel for a successful landing in Hanover. However, these figures were misleading; the FMC did not calculate fuel burn based on the gear position. Instead, it operated under the erroneous assumption that the aircraft was in a normal flying condition, effectively giving an inflated estimate of fuel reserves.
When the First Officer reported a discrepancy in fuel usage—60% more than expected—the crew rationalized continuing towards Munich rather than diverting. They seemed oblivious to the risk posed by their extended flying time with the landing gear still down.