1. CAA statistics show 167 pressurisation related diversions into UK airports in the last 10 years, about one every 23 days on average.
Pretty much in line with the US. An article the other day mentioned 172 cases between 1990 to the present, about 1 per month.
Not being a 'techie' in these matters, but am I making the wrong connections here.
Yes, I think you are. As you can see from the numbers above from both the UK and US, these things have pretty routine causes, Aloha's 737 and United's 747 incidents nothwithstanding. You hear about those 2, the other 170 for the US seldom make the news.
Also keep in mind that the media likes to keep a story going. Invariably, a something big happens with lots of coverage, but eventually the news and urgency thereof wanes as the "boring" investigation progresses. Should something else occur, it's appears quite common to attempt to link the newer (usually minor) event with the more severe older event, irrespective of whether the same type aircraft and/or airline is involved.