The current NOTAM says
DUE TO VOLCANIC ASH VA CLOUD WITHIN THE UK FIR, VFR OPERATORS SHOULD
OPERATE EXTREME CAUTION AND MUST ASSURE THEMSELVES THAT THEIR FLIGHT
CAN BE CONDUCTED IN A SAFE MANNER BEFORE FLYING.
Perfectly good advice and I certainly wouldn't fly at levels where I thought I might encounter ash but this is certainly not advice not to fly. Also, since when did pilots refer to the CAA website rather than NOTAMs before undertaking a flight and if the CAA think the MO issue clearances maybe they should resit their airlaw.
I'm fairly angry about this and the BBC's coverage of it as it suggests very strongly that the commander of this aircraft who obviously can't defend him or herself must have been acting irresponsibly. This is an implicit and quite unwarranted slander. I'll be very surprised indeed if the VA turns out to have had anything at all to do with this accident and though I can kind of understand the BBC getting the idea that nothing should be flying if that's what the CAA are telling them they tend to accept the CAA as infallible authority. stions