Do RAFAT go u/s more than civvie air?
TBH don't know the stats, but given the equipment involved here would hope rates wouldn't be grossly different.
I can't recall any airline having to divert and put me up in a hotel
Oh, it happens, certainly in Long Haul and no doubt in occasions in Short haul.....
Difference I suspect (i.e. I am guessing) between "us" civvies and this case in particular is that in the civvy world you may have the option of dispersing/rerouting some of your pax using your other flights departing that day to the same destination or use other carriers flight operating out of the same airport, and quite possibly do this within hours...
I suspect ( but happily open to correction) those weren't options that were available in this case, so I'd guess recovery options would be fix the aircraft, or get another another (e.g. company back up or a wet lease).....any of which might take time.