Topbunk
Sounds like the same attitude that a certain captain in your company took when he landed Concorde on fumes at LHR. If it all goes swimmingly then hardly anybody notices - when things go against you they go wrong big time.
Virgin had a very compliant and able London ATC to back them up. I have listened (albeit some time ago) to a TWA 747 waiting for 30 minutes in the Merue hold at CDG for a diversion clearance. His voice was going up several octaves every time he spoke.
Oh, by the way, current heavy Boeing Captain and 10 years in NATS ATC as a fully validated controller. Air Law studied to a far higher degree than the UK ATPL Air Law exam.
If it was such a non event then why did he declare a mayday and why is it subject to an AAIB report?