Originally Posted by
747 jock
There doesn't appear to be anything in the ANO that backs this up.
As it was a United airways flight and was in the USA, I doubt if what the ANO states will have any relevance as this is UK legislation.
It might be covered by ICAO Annex 2:
ICAO Annex 2 - Rules of the Air
2.4 Authority of pilot-in-command of an aircraft
The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall have final authority
as to the disposition of the aircraft while in command.
But without knowing anything about aviation law in the USA, this is purely a guess on my part.