"Thunderstorms can lead to wind-shear events, " said Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, though he added it is still too early to conclude that is what has happened with the Lion Air flight.

WSJ: Weather Scrutinized as Possible Cause of Lion Air Crash

The most advanced weather radar on the market, for example, lets pilots page through screens showing ever-changing maps of what's ahead--rain, approaching thunderstorms, turbulence, wind-shear threats--all color-coded on flat liquid crystal displays.

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