[amorphous]

Seems to me, from the photos, the aircraft was mostly intact when it hit the mountain and it likely wasn't a pitot tube freezing over since it was flying well above weather at the time. Likewise, doesn't seem like a shouldered, ground launched missile could bring it down at that altitude either.

Whatever it was that brought it down must somehow be related to neither pilot able to send a distress signal; something that only requires seconds unless an equipment malfunction occurred or an explosion in or near the cockpit.

So then why wasn't any of the passengers able to use their cell phones to call love ones during the long (8 min) decent. This is also strange, unless the passengers were unconscious. An explosion in/near the cockpit and the resulting depressurization might might answer that question as well.

All pure speculation here, as you say. The black box should reveal many more clues. Not too sure how much will ever be revealed to the public though, depending upon the cause.

I found it interesting that this occured very near CERN while they're testing at much higher power and that the aircraft is fly-by-wire.

[milford421]

Interesting and thanks for your thoughts.

[Eaker]

So then why wasn't any of the passengers able to use their cell phones to call love ones during the long (8 min) decent.

Lack of cell towers in the middle of nowhere maybe?