Could someone also perhaps enlighten me as to how the company could argue the breach in the time on task limit?
Mullah,
Not very familiar with the specifics of this flight but it does not seem that the FDP was extended. Think the only (and very valid) argument here is regarding the late night period and thus the need for 3 man due to the flight being over 8 hours.
The time on task only applies "On Normal Operations when the Standard FDP is extended by the use of In-Flight Relief, and on Ultra
Long Range Operations".