I would dispute the assertion in the report quoted by GobonoStick
BERNAMA - Preliminary Report On Crash Of Mozambique Airlines Plane Criticised that, 'Apparently the co-pilot had gone to the bathroom: but standard procedure, in airlines across the globe, is that, when this happens, the chief steward is called into the cockpit. Gomes believed this norm is widely violated.' I have worked for 5 airlines and never once have I heard of a standard procedure that if the co-pilot is in the bathroom that a cabin crew member has to be in the cockpit. Even if it were so, I would be struggling to think what good he would be in trying to sort out an emergency descent. The two questions that remain unanswered are why the emergency descent was initiated in the first place and, secondly, what were the Captain's personal circumstances outside the airline. We await with interest.