Air Cadets Grounded
Bath water and Baby come to mind with this debacle. The Haddon cave scenario was really about a long term management problem trying to use old aircraft in a role they were not designed for and then the people at the sharp end trying to get the job done without proper engineering/design back up or a budget to ensure it was done correctly. Either way it is down to MONEY not being spent on the important frontline facility.
The ATC situation was different. They had a brand new fleet of SLMG and Gliders that by any standard had good back up and proper secure hangar facilities. Compared to a civvy operation they had a sheltered life overseen by a central engineering and operational system. If this had been operated under the BGA or RAFGSA as the parent body would the fleet have had to be grounded !!
The ATC had plenty of capable staff on the flying side that gave decades of trouble free operations, and the addition of the SLMG (usually using a converted VW engine) was not a problem; so what happened on the 'back up' side that was not fit for purpose to the point that they are not allowed to fly. I suggest that the decision to outsource important facilities and then allow your own in house expertise to decline will always find favour with the bean counters, and no heads can roll as it is so SAFE to do nothing.