Thanks Tri, but it is being pedantic, height loss from flap 3 to full from selection to reaching full must only be about 50ft. But,yes, if you want to, I agree that legally at 1502ft you can call for flap full, then by the time PNF has reacted and selected it at 1500ft you are legal, but it think the gist of it all is to have everything configured by 1500.
Anyways - back to the topic on hand-
It sounds like the crew were snookered, and the Pax shafted. An ugly outcome for Emirates, but at the end of the day, no one was hurt.
Just like a couple of days ago when the baggage loaders broke down and aircraft were being delayed for an hour plus due lack of bags. We departed half and hr late minus 40 bags, and I heard one 777 was missing 270. Ouch.