CC,
In this scenario, how would you explain that radio was not used for MAYDAY
Good Question Philpop,
Since you asked respectfully, unlike Christy, I'll answer.
It takes a good number of seconds via any means to get a message off, no matter is it's HF, (high freq), ACARs (even longer) or even VHF on guard.
If the chit hits the fan, and you start fooling around looking for your hand-mike, screaming for people thousands of miles away to help you, then you will die. This wasn't a small thing that happened (Full Pinball TILT). The automation went haywire. The train came off the track. If you start spinning sideways in your car and decide right then, that you need to call for help on your CB..... guess what? Better hope that Channel 16 is the Coroner!
The first thing you must do, at all costs, is Hand Fly the Machine, while the other guy (let's hope he wasn't in the head) gets the train back on the track by restoring Air Data that the autopilot will accept. If you waste even a few seconds scratching your head at 500mph, it's adios controlled flight!
But these poor guys had 3-4 minutes of shear terror to deal with. And it's clear they never got back under control.
Aviate (get it under control, using hand flying and partial panel skills not taught anymore)
Navigate (radar cell avoidance)
and lastly, if you don't have enough to do already with the HAL-9000 going "DingDingDingDingDing"
Communicate.
CC
(see? It's not the Bermuda Triangle out there. It's over-reliance on automation imho.)