V
However, we all know that it is the responsibility of all aircrew to ensure that the mission, sortie or task for which they have been authorised is executed in a manner that minimizes the risks and hazards to the aircraft, its occupants, ground crew, other airspace users or general public over which such aircraft are flown.
The latter part is pretty close to the definition of airworthiness.
Senior officials, both Service and Civilian, had a Duty of Care to ensure an aircraft was provided capable of such execution.
The irrefutable evidence is that they
knowingly did not.
The pilots may or may not have made an error, but if they did it is entirely possible it was in trying to deal with a
far greater wrong imposed upon them.
Those senior officials should be called to account for their actions.