T & B,
You've done it again
"Some of the 49'ers"
is what you claim.
All of them were unfairly dismissed. If D & G's had taken place and what you said were true no doubt action could have been taken, but they didn't.
Personally I feel that in a more enlightened country the pilots could have taken out a Grievance against the managers concerned for not managing and therefore bringing the Airline into disrepute! No doubt you'll dispute that as well.