Commander discretion - may disregard laws in the persuance of preserving human life?
A most humanitarian gesture in principle, however, consider very carefully the location.
I would estimate that if a pilot of an embargoed airline declared a medical emergency then started an unauthorised descent into a very busy airport, then there would be a pair of F-16s of its wingtips and other one at least line astern for a missile lock inside 10 minutes if not significantly less than 5.
If the said pilot then proceeded towards the airport, ignoring the fighter's instructions to turn away we would have an automatic shootdown as a defence against the potentially hi-jacked aircraft to rearrange the Manhattan skyline once more.