teeteringhead, there was almost a similar event at Akrotiri when I was on the VC10K. Some Tornado aircrew had asked if we could take them back to the UK, rather than them suffering the misery of a Hercules trip. Of course we said yes!
The Air Eng was 'Caring Ken, the Airmans' Friend' who thought that, as an ex-trucky Master Engineer, his word was always correct. "We can't bring them back - they've got miniflares in their life preservers...", quoth he, "...and that's Dangereous Air Cargo!".
Fortunately the Captain didn't have much time for shiny-fleet triv. "We're taking them AND their kit, Ken..."
"But....but".
"Anyway, Ken, WTF do you think is in the life preservers under our seats? Yes, miniflares amongst other things!"
So the Tornado AEA was duly stuffed into a couple of large gash bags and put behind the rear row of seats - and back we came, to deliver the Tornado mates to their base. Which had the added advantage of quick customs clearance rather than the tedium of our own.