All hypothetical of course, because nobody knows the facts.......but -
What I think should be known, is who were the down to earth good blokes who dobbed them in, rather than re-activating the lights for them.
If the blokes missed it on take-off, for whatever reason, surely some common sense and airmanship would dictate those in another aircraft, nearby and could see the events unfolding, would assist by putting the lights on ?
Surely we havent all dropped down to the gutter?