misd-agin : I think you misundestood my post., or I did not express myself properly. What you say is absolutely correct, my " scenario" is indeed far-fetched , but was taken to illustrate that there are some situations where the PF/PIC mights decide to fly the aircraft instead of following an ATC instruction. But he will have to explain why afterwards. But maybe he did too, we do not know.
Now that the airline has been named, I think we could add CRM into the list of possible scenarii.
Nigel on draft :
Might one ask for the ATCOs on here to express their disapproval (if they agree) to their management over this "press comment"?
Before throwing stones, I would like to hear what the NATS spokeman ( if indeed that is the one who is quoted by the BBC ) actually said . Not what has been translated into Journospeak.