7:51am UTC: The area outside the aircraft appeared clear. The cockpit voice recorder captured the pilot-in-command saying: “How come suddenly … let me remove this and see” – but no further discussion followed on what he saw.
The TSIB said the pilot was surprised by the sudden onset of turbulence, and removed a sunshade to look out the window.
7:53am UTC: The pilot-in-command said: “We hit something, but I was on MAX … I was on MAX, I don’t see anything here” – a reference to his weather radar gain setting.
Both pilots reported seeing no cloud outside, and neither navigation display showed weather returns.
After the aircraft stabilised and the turbulence subsided, the other pilot said: “Okay we are clear already … The weather is okay.” The pilot-in-command concurred: “Quite clear now.”
