On Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:54:31 +1100, "d&tm"
wrote:

So if the pilot chose to land on R17 and crashed into a fully laden 747
that couldnt be moved in time, and 600 people died, are you saying the pilot
was in his rights to ignore ATC telling him not to land?

Yes, if he still considered it necessary to land on R17, he was within
his rights. Now, granted, once ATC mentions the fully loaded 747 that
can't be moved in time, said pilot might determine it isn't the best
course of action, but the point is that once the emergency is declared
it's the pilot's decision--not ATC's--whether or not to continue to
R17.

Rick