The fact that HM58 was tasked at all amazes me - why send an aircraft over 40 miles when there are two, each better equipped to handle several casualties, based less than 10 miles from the incident scene? In all, as it turns out, 3 helos from 3 bases were all tied up handling an incident which one (from a fourth base, closer than the other three) could have done - surely a waste of precious assets. And even had HM58 been a suitable asset, did noone notice that the weather was poor before despatching them across the Pennines?
Probably because the information available at the time concerning the scale and severity of the accident was severely limited, and possibly contradictory, whilst the need for somebody to attend was clearly urgent? Also presumably an asset can be redirected once airborne if a more urgent requirement is identified?
G