Claim: Captain Sondenheimer of Germanwings Flight 9525 performed multiple attempts to unlock the cockpit door; he tried his code but was it disabled; requested re-entry using the intercom but received no response; finally, tried to physically break down the door but failed.
Evidence: The flight's pilot in command was 34-year-old Captain Patrick Sondenheimer, who had 10 years of flying experience (6,000 flight hours, including 3,811 hours on the Airbus A320) flying A320s for Germanwings, Lufthansa, and Condor. The captain had a code to unlock the door, but the lock's code panel can be disabled from the cockpit controls. The captain requested re-entry using the intercom; he knocked and then banged on the door, but received no response. The captain then tried to break down the door, but like most cockpit doors made after the September 11 attacks, it had been reinforced to prevent intrusion. The captain asked cabin crew to retrieve a crash axe, then tried to pry the door open; the axe can be heard being used, in the form of loud bangs, on the CVR.