Yep. But you have to be resigned to that possibility, and adopt the attitude that something will happen during your airborne travails. Fer instance: During takeoffs, does the pilot scan the area ahead for possible landing sites, should the engine fail? During landings, do pilots perform the standard checks on final? (Landing Gear Check, Prop(s) Forward, Flaps Set) While climbing, do pilots angle slightly for a look ahead? One pertinent safety consideration is manual flight proficiency. Do automation-acclimated pilots occasionally pickle those gizmos and fly the plane? This tragedy has the earmarks of weather being a contributing factor. Scheduled airline pilots should lose a gallon of sweat during their IMC simulator sessions, so when they’re in the soup flying the real thing, they’ll be dry and comfortable.