Engine3,
Good points........I was recently in Uralsk and Atyrau in Kazakhstan in atrocious weather.
I fly a 604 and in icing conditions it gives me the creeps.....not that we know yet the cause of this tragedy, we'll have to wait and see but I won't be surprised if icing is a factor.
Consider also that this aircraft had just done a long sector and therefore was cold soaked. Terrible event, deep sympathy for all involved
