From what I've read, the plane was headed to Shanghai, and China doesn't accept temporary or emergency documents. Even if China did accept emergency passports, it definitely won't allow entry without a crew visa.
It was a calculated risk. The pilot would rather piss off passengers than risk getting detained in China.
Having recently renewed my passport and paid extra for "expedited" processing, the pilot will get his new passport in about four weeks.
But that's for a normal passport. Same-day issuing emergency passports at embassies is a real thing.
You've sent me down a rabbit hole.
From what I've read, the plane was headed to Shanghai, and China doesn't accept temporary or emergency documents. Even if China did accept emergency passports, it definitely won't allow entry without a crew visa.
It was a calculated risk. The pilot would rather piss off passengers than risk getting detained in China.