scotbill:
But causing massive disruption to passengers and airlines does not necessarily have to be a consequence and should worry any professional pilot.
Well I've been a professional pilot for 30 plus years now, and I'm sorry to have to tell you I couldn't give a sh1t about inconveniencing
ANYONE for the sake of safety.
I'd happily inconvenience the Queen, the Prime Minister, the President of the USA, or face the wrath of Naomi Campbell, rather than compromise the safety of the dustman in seat 48C.
That's my job!
Others have their jobs, and their responsibilities.
Operations at LHR resumed as soon as it was considered unambiguously safe to do so. Why would anyone presume otherwise? (41 minutes to deal with a significant emergency involving the discharge of foam from the emergency vehicles, before reopening 27L, sounds pretty good to me!)