It seems like he was asked a question which compelled him to opine. You seem to be assuming that he went ‘out on a limb’ of his own accord, without any basis for that assumption.
No, I did not make that assumption.
His answer to the investigator's question should have been what the operating handbook says and not an opinion he held.
Even he was offering an opinion as addendum (that may have been edited out of context in reporting), it shouldn't be this one.
Even he was offering an opinion as addendum (that may have been edited out of context in reporting), it shouldn't be this one.