I should confess at this point that job is assist companies to plan for disasters (contingency planning) so it gives me a different perspective.
When I hear people demanding that the arguments about what should be done and whether there is a scientific argument to close the airspace I am surprised. All these issues and discussion have to take place long before any event takes place. When there is a fire, do you have a debate about the merits of evacuation, the danger of smoke inhalation, and burning to death or do you evacuate? In the WTC's there was a plan of action on 9/11; some people followed it - some looked out the window rubber necking.
My point is when there is a situation, you follow the plan and discuss the issues later.