More on the timeline of the data dump and the computer-controlled turn. The turn had been programmed into the Flight Management System (FMS) prior to the last data dump from ACARS. It was then executed after the crew's "Goodnight" to Air Traffic Control. That smacks heavily of pre-meditation.
However, some pilots like to pre-program an alternate emergency route into the FMS, so that if something goes wrong and they need to seek the nearest safe landing place, they don't have to dick around - they just dial in the back-up flight plan. Thus, having an alternatate route that was, basically, a u-turn back to terra firma, is not in and of itself proof of any nefarious intent.
What they have to do now, is go back over the careers of the pilot and first officer, and look for their druthers on back-up route programming. If it was routine for them, then this means a lot less than if they rarely or never did this.
So, it's news that doesn't itself move us any closer to an answer. It just means we have new questions to ask.
