Don't blame Stansted ATC, they're switched on to helicopters, it's the BAA.
....no, blame the individual ATC person on duty for not wanting to carry the can.
Lets hope time delay did not cause further grief to the family concerned.
Bet the 'rules' would have been 'overruled' if a night incident at Stanstead required rapid evacuation from a crash on the airfield.
..one hopes that this event might result in a compassionate rider to the night noise regs.......