This was a break down in customer service and not a breakdown in safety. If the passengers deplaned they would of had to stay inside the terminal for six hours. Granted the terminal is a lot more comfortable, it is in no way safer than the aircraft. Deplaning the passengers onto the ramp is not a safe option in this situation.

As a captain my decision would have been to call dispatch, talk to the manager on duty, and get the flight canceled. This was the mistake of the CA/XJT, they never canceled the flight. If they had, XJ ops would have opened up a gate to get the passengers off. If the manager of dispatch said the flight was still going, I would have called in fatigued and got the flight canceled anyway. No need to declare an emergency, or go to the FBO or all that jazz.