Fog is fog mate 6 feet deep or 500ft still can’t see the rwy, he obviously didn’t go there for a good reason, I think its harsh for us almost 2 months later after reviewing all the data, when he would of only had seconds to gather and review and decide the best course of action! I heard rumors at Bankstown that the refueler may have topped of his aux tanks with jet a1, so after takeoff he may have switched to burn his aux’s and then got detonation on both engines or something like that just rumors going around my work.
"An AWS was also located at Richmond Aerodrome and the METAR issued at 0800 indicated that the wind was calm, the OAT 4º C, the dewpoint was 4º C, the visibility was 200 m with vertical visibility information being unavailable, and the QNH was 1033 hPa. An air traffic controller who was on duty in Richmond control tower later stated that the weather conditions at the aerodrome when the aircraft was flying over the Richmond area included a clear sky with a shallow fog that reduced visibility at ground level to 300 m."
From the report u think you would even consider going to Richmond if you head that metar on the radio! when Bankstown was cavok!
"The Bankstown Aerodrome automatic terminal information service (ATIS) ‘Bravo’7 was broadcast during the period encompassing the aircraft’s departure and subsequent return flight towards Bankstown. The ATIS information included a variable wind of 5 kts, an OAT of 6º C, CAVOK8 and a QNH of 1033 hPa. The pilot reported that he had received ’Bravo’ when contacting the Bankstown Surface Movement Controller at 0734, 6 minutes prior to departure."