Foxy2600
Correct, the aeroplane had been on check at Lasham. Story we were told at Dan Air Gatwick was that a crack was known about and being monitored for propagation every turnaround by a flying spanner, who unfortunately perished with the others.don't recall where said crack was but I seem to think they were looking at the skin just fwd of the stab and were not actually aware of the major cause of this problem. Apparently during the check some pulled rivets were being replaced in this area when a whole length of the seam 'popped', as far as we know this indication of stress did not ring any alarm bells and the effect was monitored rather than the cause.
All of the above is second hand, I did not personally witness any of it.