Originally Posted by
gazumped
The only reason to rush is if you have a fire on board that you cannot positively confirm is extinguished.
It seems to me that's exactly what they had.
However, they may not have realised that until on final. In the absence of fire, calling a PAN & following the SID & QRH is entirely justified. Once they were aware of the uncontained fire, they called MAYDAY & landed immediately at LHR, which was by then the nearest suitable runway. I don't see how the crew could have acted differently without the benefit of hindsight.
But if as has been posted here they were dealing with an engine fire, the cowlings gone, a significant fuel leak, both fire bottles blown and all containment options exhausted, I'd say there was just one hole left in the cheese & all concerned were fortunate that on this occasion it didn't line up.