I guess that would include time before and after they passed their destination. For the record, I haven’t seen that report. I’m an airline pilot and the consensus is that they were asleep. That’s the only logical explanation. But being asleep for 90 minutes? That’s hard to believe.
And for those who think you can't while flying, I knew a very good charter pilot who fell asleep flying a Beech BE95 (Travel Air) back in the 1960’s and went in a parking lot somewhere in Maryland. High speed, straight in.
There have been many many incidents, some fatal, some serious and some funny regarding pilots falling asleep.
Frankly, I think they screwed themselves because there is an excuse for falling asleep and they might have salvaged their careers, although been demoted, but playing with laptops?
That is inexcusable. You will recall that early on in your career it was drummed into your head that above all else, fly the airplane. Everything else is #2 or lower on the list. Even communications with air traffic control, important as they are, do not take precedence over flying the airplane.
Weather radar, setting way points, sick passengers,...a pilot has lots of potential distractions that must not be allowed to break rule #1...fly the airplane.
And those who do not follow that rule end up decorating the landscape with aluminum. One of the most outstanding examples of what happens to those who do not is the story of an aircraft, I forget what...seems like a Connie, back in the early sixties or maybe even earlier that flew into the FL swamps because the crew was obsessing over replacing a landing gear warning light. They thought the aircraft was on auto pilot but they did not have altitude hold engaged and it slowly descended into the swamp.
My point is that they knowingly and intentionally, if their story is true which I doubt, violated the most important rule in aviation: FLY THE AIRPLANE comes first.
So they should be terminated for either breaking that rule or lying.
I'm not an airline pilot, but I agree that 90 minutes does not pass my smell test. I could see them nodding for a few seconds or so just like most of us have done while driving and then waking in a panic. The best I can do as a passenger on a Red Eye with the cabin lights turned down, is 15 or so minutes of shut-eye at a clip. Every little bump reminds me that I'm not in bed, but in a tin can at 35,000 feet traveling at 600 mph. Not a place to rest easy.
I never understood how some people can get into a deep sleep on a flight. Maybe they just drink more booze before takeoff than me. ;~))