Seriph – “the cabin crew are usually better placed to assess the situation and advise the pilots or react as they see fit”.
I am not trying to put down cabin crew, however, there are some that do not know the right hand side of an aircraft to the left hand side of the aircraft – British Midland 737-300 kegworth.
I would have thought that communication is the key, if in a position to communicate then surely that is paramount to a satisfactory outcome to any emergency.