B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 4500; Flight Crew Type 900
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure
Had irregular engine parameters on departure. At cruise had a START VALVE OPEN light on and ran the QRH and following the QRH shut the left engine down. We continued on to ZZZ and did not request priority handling; but did tell ATC we had shut one engine down. We were closer to ZZZ1 airport but deemed higher to descent so continued on to ZZZ. QRH says to land at 'NEAREST SUITABLE AIRPORT.' Landed in ZZZ with no further issue and company is now saying we should have diverted to ZZZ1. There was no smoke; no fire; the RIGHT engine seemed to be running normal so there was not an urgent need to get on the ground. If I were the Captain I would have requested priority handling; but the Captain was worried about FAA inspections and company fallout with a priority request. I however would have also elected to continue to ZZZ as suitable to me also implies maintenance.
B737 First Officer reported a lack of consensus when an engine was shut down for a start valve open light illuminating as to request priority handling and divert or to continue to destination airport.