Date: 201905
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Aircraft component: Cockpit Door
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant In Charge
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: During the top of descent the pilots called to initiate a restroom break. The Captain was the first to step back and step back into the flight deck; then the First Officer proceeded to do the same; though when the First Officer tried to re-enter the door was jammed. After several attempts on my part to open the door the Captain proceeded to leave his jump seat quickly about 5 secs to try to open the door and give it a few tugs. He returned to the jump seat and then I tried another time to open the door; then after another failed attempt to release the jammed door the Captain once again left his jump seat to release the pins on the blowout door on the flight deck door; after a failed attempt of kicking out the blow out door. The Captain proceeded to have me sit in the First Officer's chair for landing and told me to buckle up. I did exactly as I was told and sat down and buckled up; I was as far back as the seat could go and sat there until we were at the gate. Upon arrival toward the gate he then requested that I read a section of the checklist to him. Then we parked at the gate and had Maintenance come into the plane and still were not able to release the door; they had to come into the flight deck via the First Officer's window at which point he was able to release the door after a few more minutes.


Second narrative: When the co-pilot took a bathroom break before descent; standard procedure was followed. The Captain and the A Flight Attendant were in the flight deck. I was the C FA (Flight Attendant); I was guarding. It became clear after many attempts by the Co-Pilot to re-enter the flight deck; something was seriously wrong with the door and it would not open. After 10 to 20 minutes of kicking and struggling with the door; the door would absolutely not open.The B FA assumed the A's safety position for landing and I assumed my position in the aft aircraft for landing. (Note: The co-pilot sat L1 jump seat for landing and cross checked with the B FA) I disarmed both L2 and R2 doors upon landing. The B FA disarmed both L1 and R1 doors. The passengers deplaned as usual to no alarm. Upon the completion of deplaning it would be another 20+ minutes before Maintenance was able to get the Captain and the A FA out of the flight deck.


Synopsis: Flight attendants reported the cockpit door being closed and not being able to open it to let the First Officer return after restroom break.