If I remember correctly at least one of the jets flew past Mildura on the way to Adelaide and at the time of passing was clear.
This would have, I imagine, gone some way to influencing any decisions made at the time.
Good decision making is making the best use of all available resources to inform the decision. In this instance the above would have been part of that decision making process.
I know the captain of one of the aeroplanes and he is a truly professional pilot who took his role seriously, is an outstanding individual and role model and from everything I can see got stuck in an awkward position through the confluence of events.
I would put myself, wife and kids in a jet under his command any and every day of the week.