Thanks AAIGuy - it annoys me too, which is why I always try and get the research right in my books! Your experience is fascinating (those MiB ...). It would be so interesting to know whether the guys on the flight deck, even on the other side of the world, would have known or whether they would have been oblivious. My other half was told while they were in the air, but maybe the radio/info procedure is different for light aircraft vs commercial flights.
CodyBlade - that's an amazing image, planes parked toe to toe. If anyone can tell me whether that was a sight seen round the world I'd love to know ...