Let's make it clear too, a complex twin turbine jet in the soup is a place for TWO EXPERIENCED pilots. That's when things happen VERY quickly (as we have seen) and instinct needs to take over. Proactive, not reactive. This only comes with experience, like a couple thousand hours, with at least 800 or so on the type currently flying. Maybe they had those kind of hours, we shall see.
Now, if there was a weather radar system failure, that's when you need to declare an emergency and get tons of guidance from ATC in those flying conditions. That's what they are there for, and they will bend over backward to help those in need.
I can't tell you how many air disaster videos I've watched where inexperienced pilot(s) get behind the aircraft, and next thing you know, they are crashing due to avoidable errors.
I can't comment on this incident without knowing more details, but rule 1 is don't fly into the red stuff. A very convective cell can actually project hail miles up and out in an umbrella shape. You are supposed to give that kind of radar signature 15-20 miles avoidance.
These are the flying conditions that professional major airline pilots train for and deal with all the time, not just once in a while. They are endlessly making calls and evaluating safe options, changing course, vectoring, watching radar, etc. And it comes naturally after a while. Muscle memory
All those rich people can have their private jets (yes Howard, you should be very worried and paranoid when you fly private). I'll jam myself in a coach middle seat, thank you very much.
Just look a that Walberg who almost plowed off the runway in Vegas and J Law who lost BOTH engines in flight. That's just in the last few days...