[Porsche-O-Phile]

Electrical power loss on a modern jet is pretty much a death sentence. EVERYTHING is electronic now - instrumentation, engine controls, flight surface controls, etc. However this is extremely unlikely given how redundant the systems are (and everything is shielded, etc. - one of the reasons aircraft are so expensive).

A loss of cabin pressure from 40,000 would provide a very short TUC (time of useful consciousness) unless supplemental oxygen was used and/or an emergency descent was initiated (sounds like it was).

Flying into thunderstorms is a really easy way to die - even in a modern jet with all kinds of protections. I'm thinking these guys punched into a CB cell and it tore them up, but we'll see.

Very interesting to see what's going to come out of the investigation.