Ref: Nimrod v Cosford & LDA.
Is there not potential authorisation for a min crew (3?), min fuel, stripped out airframe to make a landing in ideal weather* conditions outside normal RTS limitations?
*Having positioned initially at Shawbury waiting for said ideal weather conditions, and/or stripped(unladen) by the MU staff.
I am sure that Paddy L in his day could have put a Nimrod on the piano keys and stopped her in time, and the logistics of borrowing a few fire engines to provide Cat 5 are far easier then butchering an aeroplane and then fixing it.