I quite agree with Seriph and Neo. The pilots were flying IMC in sea fog at high speed towards what they knew to be rising ground. Have done it myself now and then, for various reasons (one of which, incidentally, was when asked by . .some 'pongos' in the back to 'do a bit of low flying to give them a thrill').
I feel that the MOD would be right in sticking to their guns, however, Blair, being a politician, and politicians being spineless vote chasers, will inevitably overturn the MOD ruling in the end.
There are certain obligations on armed forces senior officers. And one of those is that you have to make hard decisions and then stand by them, however unpopular they may be. Its all part of leadership, and the 'loneliness of high command'.