Agreed, I am a little skeptical about the turbulence theory as well. For one thing, it was almost impossible that the AF pilot wasn't aware that he was travelling through a zone of turbulence given that the pilot and co-pilots most likely were already aware before they even left Rio. Secondly, what kind of turbulence would cause a sudden and catastrophic failure on such a large and advanced plane, I have never heard of it before. Plus, the TAM pilot who spotted what appeared to be fires burning on the ocean, his plane would have to pass sufficiently close for him to see and yet, he reported nothing unusual re: the weather.