the MoD and the RAF in particular, had “far better [safety] processes in place” since a 2006 incident in which a Nimrod aircraft exploded over Afghanistan killing 14 crew members.
This ludicrous nonsense proves an oft-made point. The evidence to Haddon-Cave was that the regulations were not implemented. He accepted this. Government accepted it. The MAA was established to correct it. It has yet to start, preferring to write new regulations and processes; and still allow project offices to treat them as optional.