stoic
let's put the FAA aside on this one. At least you stayed on this side of the atlantic and got repairs and took care of your passengers. I also see that you didn't have to declare a low fuel emergency.
I think the real question about this whole thing is OPTIONS.
IF you were in a 747 and thousands and thousands of miles from anyplace in the aviation ''first world'' continuing on 3 would be fine with me. (I think that was the spirit and intent of the regs.)
Got that, fine with me!
BUT, on the west coast of the USA I can think of many ''first world'' airports which were much closer than MAN England. Granted BA might have had to pay some extra money to take care of things in the USA instead of England...but then the money is the decision maker isn't it?
In your case, 29 years ago, I can think of a few airports, and I can see why JFK was your choice...but you didn't go another 3000 miles after JFK. Perhaps that is why the FAA didn't do anything.
Anyone remember the regs about takeoff alternates and the differences for the number of engines? But that is another subject.
j