Originally Posted by
Genius1
Originally Posted by
AA_EXP09
A diversion somewhere in the continent might be better (more direct, no need to reverse? Then again, some PAX might not have documentation, though unlikely as HK can access Schengen area visa free, and so can UK passports.)
Given G-CIVX would be under maintenance, BA would then have to fly a 747 out there and somehow get the affected 747 back. Also, LHR is where BA know the hotel situation and have enough staff and facilities to deal with something like this.
Moreover, some pax might decide to abandon their journeys (eg if they were making a time-critical trip which is no longer viable) and the chances are that more of them would be better off doing that at the point of origin rather than being stuck in a remote place that nobody had planned to be.
I don't understand why there would be a need to divert somewhere "more direct" or with "no need to reverse". This was a stuck landing gear, not a fire or a leak. There was every chance that it would take more work than calling out the guy from the AA to fix it, so having the aircraft stuck at a remote location would also be likely to mean it was out of service for longer.