Originally Posted by
bubbers44
... in an airplane advertised as stall proof.
That's a misconception. The protections were "advertised" as being able to prevent stall, this is true - but the "FBW Airbus can't stall" myth came out of press misunderstandings and public misinterpretations. Other modern myths include things like "Apple computers don't crash and can't get viruses" and "ABS in modern cars means braking distances are shorter".
The common thread running through all these myths is that they contain a grain of truth, but have been transmogrified through retelling until they actually become untrue in themselves. Apple computers do crash (and how - believe me!), and in some situations ABS can extend overall stopping distance. People who work with these machines are supposed to know this, but they can't stop the myths from gaining traction.
In the case of the Airbus myth, it is the Normal Law protections that make it almost impossible to stall the thing as long as all systems are functional, but with the failure or disengagement of systems that those protections rely on the aircraft becomes no more difficult to stall than any other airliner in the sky. If the PF was not trained to know that, then it is a massive dereliction of duty on the part of those who trained him. If the PF was trained to know that and in a moment of panic - or under pressure - forgot, then it was a tragic mistake - and one that many more experienced pilots, including senior and decorated Captains, have also made in the past.