ExSp33db1rd
of course you did the right thing. if pieces fall off the plane, land, do the paperwork.
I am reminded of "Fate is the Hunter" when a problem over the pacific caused the engines of a DC4 to quit.
Finally, EK Gann took THE ENGINEERS UP and said: you work the throttles, I'll just steer.
All 4 engines quit and the ENGINEERS started screaming.
The QANTAS pilots did the RIGHT, SAFE,PRUDENT thing in landing at the first available field. At that moment, those passengers were no better or worse off than if they had been in an auto accident in that city. I would like to think that methods of stabalizing a spinal injury patient were available there.
Had they continued to Perth, there was a small chance the plane could have come apart in flight...if that had happened, how would someone rectify that problem.
I am not a fan of airbus. The A330 and the A300, while having different flight control systems, are of the same heritage. If I were captain, the tragedy at KFJK would have flashed through my mind.
Jet upsets, flight control irregularities and the like are a damn good reason why a pilot shouldn't have anything on his lap and his attention constantly, CONSTANTLY focused on keeping the plane right side up.