I can partly sympathise with some of the junior people directly involved in the situation.
Imagine you were cabin crew on the flight - it's 3 am, you have very little control of the situation, you don't dare go against company procedures because of the company's reputation for punishing those who break the rules, you've done far more hours than you expected to work, and you're not being paid for all the grief. Whatever happens, you won't be thanked or rewarded for your efforts.
Would you really care after 3 am ?
Were flight deck crew on board the plane ? What did the captain do ? You know - all that stuff about captain being in command and responsible, etc...