... Fuel emergencies happen, mainly due to congestion at destination airport (weather, single runway operation, congested airspace etc etc)
What the programme didnt address is why any competent Captain didnt look at the TAF and with their local knowledge of MAD, put on a chunk of fuel to cover the very event that was forecasted. MAD do not have the most efficient controllers in Europe, at least not for non Spanish aircraft, so together with crappy wx and night time rush hour, it was a recipe for disaster.
Do they feel so pressured that they cant put on 20 mins EXTRA holding for such a murky forecast?
Is their commercial pressure so great (perceived or otherwise) that they felt compelled to stay at MAD until the last possible minute thereby arriving at VLC with minimum reserve fuel?
Why didnt they listen to everyone else diverting to VLC and think, Hmmm, better not leave it until the last minute before we go there?
Whats it called again ....... AIRMANSHIP!