Reading comprehension problems...or axes to grind?
This flight never reached cruise phase. Hit hail on climbout and leveled off at FL150. Likely never got more than 60 miles (100 km) from Rio. Most likely effect on pitots (if any) would be to dent them or knock them loose - not plug them.
If anyone wants to "overcook" the sparse relationship between this event and AF447, go ahead - but presumably we won't see you getting all huffy with "the media" when they "overcook" future incidents.
Right? Right!