Mr. Optimistic, please review the Tim Vasquez plots of the storm and the plane's position in the storm. Check the visibility of the Moon at that time and location.
In order to see you need clear air, a light source, and something to see. I submit that they had two of them at some point but never had all three. I'm not sure such starlight as might have managed to get through the upper layer obstructions would have been enough.
edit: Specifically the half Moon was in its last 40 minutes before it went down. They were well into the storm. Maybe enough Moonlight was able to get through to show some glints on the ocean surface. The Moon was on a line with the line of clouds, though.
Last edited by JD-EE; 13th Jun 2011 at 01:22.