henra
BEA is of course not stupid, we must look elsewhwere for the apathy and ignorance. It lays with the flying public, and cowed pilots. Even the pilots threw in when AB flipped in the new pitots.
I think it is most unlikely the pitots were at fault. At cruise, especially that high, they would not ordinarily drown in air laden with super cooled Water.
If it was the pitots, it most certainly involved an excursion into a cell. This brings up an even more unacceptable trail of fault.
BEA will satisfy as many as they can (it will be a majority), and lay off any residual doubts on weather, Radar, Training, Radio vacuum, etc. until all but the most stalwart acquiesce. I have seen this too many times.
Oh, and the dead Pilots. (They have the "answer", the pitots).
cheers, bear