[MindBender26]

Actually, absent the thrust, with an engine near the longitudinal CG, losing the engine weight itself might not have been that much of a problem, but the further disturbance of airflow and spar damage, especially if the got it down near stall speed:

Stall, spin, crash, burn.

They are lucky they got it back to the a/p.

[Secret Agent Man]

I am very, very happy they were able to get the plane down alright. With all that experience in the cockpit, I would say in this worst-case scenario it made all the difference in the world. Gotta be grateful to God all those guys were in the plane together to get it down okay.