There was a considerable media circus surrounding the launch of the 24hr SAR that day. That would certainly have influenced the decision making of the crew, to decline a flight on the first night
A quick skim of the report addresses this and comes to the conclusion that all the media hoopla would have had the effect of compelling them to accept the task. Rather than speaking ill of the dead I wish
crab would address the report and give us the benefit of his SAR experience by commenting on the facts. Trashing the crew brings no lessons learnt to the table. Sorry.