Ref "Mayday" ....
As a Manch Tower ATSA, I have personally been invoved in three + 1..
A321, on departure "Smoke in the cockpit"...Masks ON....Circuit, and Land
Emergency svcs alerted ASAP
Dash8, Engine fail on T/O...Clear the circuit [Virgin B747 broken off apr...amongst others]
DC3 overflight...double engine fail at FL090...glide apr
C172, lost in snow...landed on R/w 28 at Manch, Xwind, and "dinged" a wingtip...and a proptip
cost about £3K...crew OK
ALL ended Safely
ALL were {almost} routine. WE [both Aircrew
and ATC] are trained to handle these problems.........Sooo....
If the PIC calls Mayday, or Pan, His call..our job is to help him/her FULL STOP.