Originally Posted by OPNLguy

Not to put too fine a point on this, but FAR 91.3 is dependent on the type of operation being conducted, like an airline pilot flying his own personal aircraft, or for flying his airline's ferry flight from point A to point B, as was the case in MCO. Put that same airline pilot in his airline's aircraft on a Part 121 Domestic flight, and their emergency authority is under FAR 121.557(a). The flight's aircraft dispatcher also has their own emergency authority under FAR 121.557(b). As noted, ATC can also declare it.

Back to the original topic, the media coverage on this event was essentially much ado over nothing, especially since it wasn't related to either crash. It could have been a flat tire, and they'd have reported it in the same way, solely on the fact that it was an -800 MAX.