we'll see.

Also, this was an A320, not a 330, and the 320 doesn't have a history of pitot tube icing. So while it's premature to rule anything out or in, I'd be surprised if this turned out to be like AF 447. It could very well be weather-related in some way, though.

and I admit I am not a pilot, not an accident investigator by any stretch, so in this case merely a fascinated observer.

However...
years ago I worked as a parts manager in an FBO and handled all of the parts ordering. There are not dozens and dozens of Pitot Tube makers. Not that I recall, anyway.

My point here is that perhaps it is the vendors design problem, not Airbus....? Maybe?

Either way.......

These mysteries fascinate me.

and the replacements were Honeywell. Will have to check.

because of air traffic at the time above them. Five minutes later contact was lost with the plane. Since they couldn't climb they had no choice but to continue on through the storm. Because of the bad weather a multitude of things could have happened. We aren't going to know in any case for a long time, and the plane has to be found first. More than likely it's at the bottom of the sea, but at least this time they know in what area it would have gone down. Sadly, no one would have survived.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/indonesia-searches-java-sea-missing-airasia-plane-relatives-022153350--finance.html
<snip>
Flight QZ8501 was travelling at 32,000 feet above the Java Sea and had asked to fly at 38,000 feet to avoid clouds, said Joko Muryo Atmodjo, air transportation director at Indonesia's transport ministry.

Permission was not given at the time due to traffic in the area. Five minutes later, at 6:17 a.m. on Sunday (2317 GMT Saturday), the plane lost contact with air traffic control, Atmodjo said.

Data from Flightradar24.com, which tracks airline flights in real time, showed several nearby aircraft were at altitudes ranging from 34,000 to 36,000 feet at the time, levels that are not unusual for cruising aircraft.

There was a low pressure area with enough energy to produce huge thunderstorms. Whatever happened was most likely weather related.

One of my dad's favorite flying stories was about getting hit with a huge downdraft at altitude, the plane dropping far and fast enough that they were weightless, cigarettes floating out of packs in pockets. He needed a lot of drinks when he got home from that one.

It's not inconceivable that weather can knock a plane out of the sky.

I used to fly a lot when I was in my early teens, as my parents lived apart, one in Boston the other in Florida. On one trip we hit turbulence and the plane just dropped out of the sky. It seemed like forever at the time, but probably didn't last more than 5 seconds. Enough time to send luggage and anything not strapped down flying around the cabin, including tossing a couple people from their seats. They called it an "air pocket" at the time. One of the terrifying things I'd ever experienced, but it never stopped me from flying...but I always keep my seat belt on now.

from over the mountains. We dropped 300 plus feet once and I'm here to say that was an unnerving feeling. I was setting over the left wing and it looked like the plane was flapping its wings. I'd say the tip of that old 737 or 727 wing traveled a good 6 or 7 feet between when it was supporting the plane to when it wasn't. Yikes

When it lets go, the tips are well above the roof line of the fuselage;

In my minds eye I thought they were relatively solid so it surprised me they flexed like they did. Flapped like they did

I was young in the navy at the time so I was still pretty naive about the flying world