The accident report`s conclusions include the following
"5. The weather on route of M635 partially covered by the Cumulonimbus clouds
formation between 12,000 feet up 44,000 feet. The FDR data indicated that the flight was not affected by the weather condition and investigation concludes that the weather was not factor to the accident."
At 22:57 The crew took action for wx and turbulence. Within 3 seconds the first of the RTL warnings appeared on ECAM .
At 23:04 wx avoidance turn was requested and at 23:12 FL380 was requested again for wx.
At 23:16:43 A/P was lost, reversion to Alt Law and left roll up to 54 degree began. Nine seconds after this the aircraft climbed to 38,000 at 11000 ft/sec.
At 23:16:53 P1 said "Oh my God".
At 23:17:29 P2 said " whats going wrong" (in French)".
At 23:17:41 P1 said " my God "
At 23:19:58 Instruction to select CAPT 3.
All that above looks very much like a scenario of the crew trying to get out of an intense CB cell. What evidence was there on the FDR to conclude that wx was not a factor.
Was the P1`s first fearful exclamation brought about by the wrong action of the P2 or was it because they found themselves in a more perilous situation than expected after the climb.
The P2`s question is in fact an expression of surprise. Does it not suggest that the the indicated responses he expected by the instruments do not conform to his actions. He is baffled and cannot understand why the situation is worsening.