Let me get this straight: failures on all four engines and a 25,000+ feet drop isn't worrying to you? I mean, sure, that's ok if you're at FL410, but maybe not at, say, FL240?!
Judging some of the comments that SOME pilots have made today, I am increasingly satisfied with the need for ATC to provide some adult supervision in the world of aviation...
But you forget to mention they actually flew over th e plume itself at night. All we are asking is:
1. Real tests of air in all different air spaces that have been closed.
2. Reduced restrictions eg; allow daytime VMC flying.
3. Change ATC procedures so flights can reach FL200 in the fastest way possible.
Anyway this is now an international emergency and as such a compromise will have to be found. It is a matter of a when European ministers get their act together. Sometimes it feels like the UK they are very slow coping with anything out of the usual, such as snow.