> a simultaneous 2 disk failure in a storage array (...) is a very unusual event
I'd disagree. If you have same model, same production batch of harddrives in a RAID, the chances of simultaneous failure is elevated. Depending on RAID level and workload, it's quite possible two or more drives are loaded (accessed) in exactly the same way. If, again, they are from the same production batch, chances are they have similar production defects in mechanics or semiconductors, thus it makes sense they'd fail almost simultaneously.