So the questions - will the CAA (or is that FAA?) prosecute for unauthorised broadcast on airband? The article doesn't say where this happened but presumably it was it state side (which would maybe make more sense as there weren't high winds in Castlederg!).
From the context, it sounds like this exchange happened on HF. It's not uncommon that a distant station will get better reception than a close station. It's also not clear how he contacted the airport. Possibly by telephone. I'm guessing VHF wasn't working too well over the Atlantic.
It's also not uncommon for hams to come together in an emergency, and again, sometimes the better contact is not nearby.
Further information on HF frequencies:
Panama-Pacific Net, covers the Carribean, 8143 KHz, used by sailors and land stations to communicate status, etc.
New York ARINC: 8906 KHz, 8825 KHz (North Atlantic), 8846 KHz, 8918 KHz (Carribean), 8933 KHz.
If you have a general coverage receiver you can easily move between those frequencies, as they are on the same band. Non-channelized Aircraft radios can move to the marine frequencies if necessary.