They don't believe it broke up until it hit the water (as anything would).

But yes, there were problems with the pitot tubes. Problems that had been known but hadn't been addressed properly.

There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.
You can prove almost anything depending on what numbers you use for your statistics.

"Obviously if the condition is that you're going to crash, more people will die in plane crashes than will die in car crashes. But if that condition doesn't exist, your chances of dying from a crash when you step on board a plane are far less than those when you hop in a car." (SabrestoSabres)

Damn right my chances of dying in a plane crash are less than dying in a car crash - 'cause I'm not flying! The more times you fly, the greater your chances of being in a plane crash, right? Just like the more often you are in a car, the greater your chances of being in a car crash. It's all in the statistics. Right....

Naturally, yes. But flying is still safer on a per-mile basis. You're over 600 times more likely to die for each mile that you fly versus each mile that you drive.