As a pilot for an airline with TV and internet on our planes, we are actually discouraged from making anything other than a welcome aboard PA. The rationale is that passengers don't want the TV audio interrupted for a sightseeing update. Also, if they're curious about our position, we have a moving map channel. I used to enjoy the updates, but now I just enjoy my view.
The runways were fine, the taxiways were awful. We landed 27 and took the same taxiway 15 hours after this incident and it was still an icy mess, as were most of the taxiways leading to our gate.
You do realize it's every airlines policy? If you're asked to get off of a plane and are non compliant, they will call local law enforcement. You should also read the contract of carriage. It specifically lays out what the airlines can and can't do. Guess what? They can ask you to get off of a plane, and you signed that contract by purchasing the ticket.
What could they do? At that point it's between the police and the passenger. Even the captain has no say once the passenger becomes non compliant with the police.
With all the amateur/pro photographers,video cams, and eyewitnesses, SXM is a place you really don't want to mess up. WestJet denies the plane ever went below 500 feet, the video disproved that. Now the crew will probably have to do a carpet dance in front of management.
