athonite, Are you a professional pilot? I ask because you seem to suggest that you have knowledge and wisdom which is denied to many of us.
the need for a crew member to leave the flight deck on such a short flight
What if it's a longhaul flight?
AFAIK there is no serious current or proposed means of preventing either pilot from deliberately crashing the aircraft. Would that there were.
These are extremely rare events and, correct me if I'm wrong, the first by a Western European pilot.