I asked a similar question on the "Questions" Forum on Saturday, and got one response!
If the wreckage is causing no obstruction to airport operations, there is no damage to the infrastructure which supports airport operations, and visibility is above minimum levels, should the airport be re-opened?
It would be interesting to know how long it took to re-open Los Rodeos in 1977, or Sioux City in 1989, where the incident was far more severe. And before anyone replies, I realise it was longer than 2 days.
No Comment, I guess that the press deliberately sought controversial comments from PAX along the lines that you report. From someone who was affected, I was told that the "lack of information" was not helpful. Apparently several "false dawns" came and went.
Beamer, isn't most of the AAIB work relating to possible aircraft defects carried out away from the scene? There must be a finite amount of information that can be gained from the accident site, re-inforced through the ability to photograph/video the scene.
BIK....,I think you will find that much of the delay to re-opening the rail line after either the Southall or Paddington disasters, was due to the sheer extent of the damage to the track and other infrastructure.
[ 08 January 2002: Message edited by: newswatcher ]</p>