What is the recommended action when severe ice is encountered?

When severe ice is encountered, the recommended action is to immediately divert to an alternate route. This is primarily due to the significant dangers that severe icing presents to aircraft, including loss of control, increased weight, and potential system failures. Continuing normal operations or attempting to descend below the freezing level can exacerbate the situation, as the aircraft may still be exposed to harmful ice accumulation. Requesting assistance from air traffic control is a prudent measure, but the priority should be to safely navigate away from severe icing conditions to ensure the safety of the flight. Diverting to an alternate route allows the pilot to seek a more favorable flight path where icing conditions are mitigated, ensuring a greater margin of safety for the aircraft and its occupants.