"Ok, lets just clear this up...
MM7168 (NOT the Airbus) squawks 7700 at 09:35 GMT, which is 10:35am Central European Time (Promise!) just to the East in Northern Italy.
The Airbus, started the rapid descent at 09:31 GMT, or 10:31 CET.
We're confident that there's zero connection?"
we can't be confident there is but can't be confident there isn't too so it's just pure speculation, MM7168 would fly with its transponder on and it would be seen on ATC radar anyway