Why did the Captain not send the flight engineer to investigate the smoke detector warning?
Answer...Because somebody not there decided they were not necessary years ago.
Why did this Captain not get out of his seat and desert his post and stroll into
cabin (with his hat and tie and jacket on) and investigate the warning or fight the fire having decided to leave everything on the flight deck to his F/o to decide what to do...single pilot IFR way to go...could his F/o cope with it all in an integrated crew cockpit? Were they both trained for this particular situation?
Answer..This Captain faced with all the various possibilities and history of this aircraft decided to get it on the ground as soon as possible and the passengers off via the slides rather than wait hours for steps and possibly see them all get killed by smoke...He probably also could not find his hat and tie....that crime is what he will be disciplined for!
God and Ala give me strength...I hope he joins a Royal Flight and lives happily ever after.