Thanks for your 2 cents worth Dozy. As you say they were planning to divert but ran out of time. That is why I said they should have landed earlier, long before LAX. LAX was too late as we now know.
Just because something is "certified" doesn't make it foolproof. there are a number of cases in aviation history where bad, but certified systems have killed people. The design is stupid. The screwjack should have placed at the trailing edge, not the leading edge, just as the rudder of a plane or boat is aft of the rudder post.
As far as the whistleblower is concerned, the mechanic unions should have made a stink and threatened to shut down the entire industry.
That's how I feel about it. Aviation is not the place to fool around. There is too much at stake.
Thanks.