On 22 April 2016 , the BEA finally concluded the cause of the crash as follows : " The aeroplane speed , piloted by the autothrottle , decreased due to the obstruction of the pressure sensors located on the engine nose cones , probably caused by ice crystals . The autopilot then gradually increased the angle of attack to maintain altitude until the aeroplane stalled . The stall was not recovered . The aeroplane retained a pitch-down attitude and left bank angle down to the ground , while the control surfaces remained mainly deflected pitch up and in the direction of a bank to the right . The aeroplane hit the ground at high speed . " Contributing factors : The BEA issued more than 20 recommendations in response to the crash , several of them noted on past aviation accidents , including West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 , Air France Flight 447 , and a serious incident onboard Spirit Airlines Flight 970 . Some of the recommendations based on Search and Rescue operation , CVR , and " urgent " recommendation to FAA about icing in aircraft
Air France Flight 447
Air France Flight 447
Air Algérie Flight 5017