Some interesting comments and yes, good job UPS pilots.
First off, the ETOPS rules wouldn't help you if you were in a 4 engine jet like the DC8 or whatever. You would be out over the water and YIKES...ditching might be your only option and that isn't a good one.
the initial call only 5 miles away...sorta doubt it, but that might have been when approach control handed off DC8 to tower and the call was repeated.
The DC8 can reverse inboard engines in flight to help get down. Think of this,the plane was probably in the middle 30's (flight levels of course guys)when it happened..they could have been 5 miles OVER THE TOP OF PHL.
Lucky the control cables were not burned, though they are steel and should handle some heart, collapsing floors are something else.
HAZMAT is a huge problem and I don't know how we have been so lucky with passenger planes carrying cargo. Even before 9/11, responsible people called for better and safer ways of flying.
Does anyone have the names of the pilots at UPS? I have a couple of friends there.
jon