[Not a pilot] After STAB TRIM cutout, the Ethiopian pilots were apparently wondering why the electric trim was not working. After one minute of this, the First Officer requested permission to try manual trim, which would seem to be the handwheel. After eight seconds, he declared that it was not working.
My question: Is it possible that the Pilot in Command flipped only one STAB TRIM cutout switch thinking that it would still allow electric trim as on previous 737s?
I'm not qualified to say how MAIN ELECT and AUTO PILOT work on previous series planes, but might a scenario like this explain the wasted minute until the first officer spoke up?