Nice story.
I'm hearing this morning that the crew was having a problem with one engine. That thing should easily flying on three and even more easily make an approach and land on three. I just wonder if one of the four got hung up in reverse mode and they couldn't get it shut down? I hate to speculate.
Speaking of awesome. Years ago when I was working out of Dulles for a now defunct airline, I'd routinely see the Concord. The back gate access road allowed you to drive right under the close-in approach end of 1R. One day I saw it coming as I came through the gate and stopped my car and got out as it came overhead. It felt like it was going to take my head off. They carried lots of power all the way to touchdown.
Very doubtful. The only engines that are capable of in-flight reverse are the two inboards. To get them in that mode required peculiar throttle movements (if I remember correctly: lifting over a stop and moving backwards and down) that no one would make after takeoff. To me, the most likely scenario remains a multiple bird-strike causing the near simultaneous loss of two engines.