It was a ridiculous situation that existed where an ATC could close an airport
It hasn't happened here yet but the airports of the world are littered with the bodies of crew and pax that were being "operationally controlled" from Seat 0A, fog and thunderstorm prangs being examples. Operational Control would be even more appropriate today with the increased cost pressures... I'm not agreeing with it, just pointing out that around the world, hundreds of poeple would be alive today had our old "Operational Control" been in effect.