It's a bloody god thing that none of these Journo's appear to use surface -transport.
Not that I disagree about sensationalist news coverage in general - but in this case the "story" was the (apparently) violent avoidance manuever and its effects in the cabin, not the proximity of the planes as such.
It does seem to be a little on the overreaction side to do a negative G bunt when you are aware of the other aircraft and you are only asked for 1600fpm descent.
I believe the request was for an
altitude change of 1600 feet, not a descent RATE of 1600 fpm. Losing 1600 feet in, say, 25 seconds, takes a descent RATE of 3840 fpm.
And since the A319 was in climb, a change to a descent would have involved a
total V/S change larger than simply descending from level flight. Say, a climb of 2000 fpm converting rapidly to a descent of 3840 fpm = net V/S change of 5840 fpm. Mild "vomit comet" maneuver.