Flight attendants are trained to notify the captain if there is an emergency that poses a hazard to the aircraft or to the passengers on board.
But there was no hazard to the aircraft or the passengers on board ... was there?
Let's face it, we hear it all the time when the LoCo passenger hasn't made it to the check-in desk on time, "But please, my mother is dying, you must let me travel" or whatever, alas we've heard so many excuses during our time we're pessimistic when we hear it the next time, and the next time etc.