There has been some discussion about why the a/c appeared not to have diverted around the CB.
The Captain had carried out sixteen rotations in the South America sector since 2007 and the co pilot had performed 39 rotations on the South America sector since 2002. Both I think would be use to avoiding CBs.
I see that
1.9.1. p 33
At 1 h 35 min 38 s, the ATLANTICO controller sent a SELCAL call.
At 1 h 35 min 43 s, the crew thanked the controller.
At 1 h 35 min 46 s, the controller asked them to maintain an altitude of FL350 and to give a
TASIL estimate.
Between 1 h 35 min 53 s and 1 h 36 min 14 s, the ATLANTICO controller asked the crew
three times for their estimated time passing the TASIL point. The crew did not answer.
It appears that there were no further voice communication after that time, only ASD-C and ACARS.
I wonder whether the problems they experienced may have started just after 1 h 35 min 43