So it is true: nowadays loss of control is the public enemy number one of aviation safety.
So much for the CFIT reign.
All those years bombarding us with CRM... OK, there was lack of crew communication and lack of first officer assertivenes, but the main problem here was inability to control the aircraft.
What has to be analyzed is: why was the pilot unable to control the airplane? the only explanation is that the captain saw the large flock of birds, felt the impacts and thought that he had lost or could lose both engines. Hence the cracy turn, and lowering the landing gear. I can't explain the thrust reduction, though.
Again, everything seems easy from my chair. Keep wings level, keep climbing, may day, checklists, vectors, landing. Only and engine fire with vibration.
And the nose gear warning.
And not knowing exactly what was going on, who knows maybe you lost two engines...
damn, not so simple!