Further to A33Zab's reply -
At M=0.81 alphamax is 5 degrees, so it is quite possible that alpha max was exceeded.
However, in the QF72 accident alpha max was exceeded by a large amount. From the QF72 Final Report (5.2.2):
The 10° nose-down elevator command was very close to the highest magnitude possible from the EFCS’s two corrective mechanisms. The second AOA spike of 50.6° resulted in the AOA value used by the FCPCs (AOAFCPC input) being 26°. If the AOAFCPC input had been over 30°, the EFCS would have reverted to alternate law, which would have resulted in one of its corrective mechanisms (high AOA protection) not being active.