Originally Posted by lomapaseo
I say again, don't get too wrapped up in simplified theories about pitot tubes.
Indeed, I haven't been able to find any previous case of an airliner being downed
in cruise phase by obstructed pitot tubes. There have been cases where uncommanded descents have occurred, but no actual crashes. IMO, pitot tubes are likely to be a factor, but one which can only down a plane in cruise phase when combined with other factors, some of which may be more serious than the pitot tube icing itself.
"This problem has been known for 15 years" is something that gets repeated a lot, but even granting such a point (and IMO the problem has been known for a lot longer), in 15 years, it has not resulted in a problem similar to this one.