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The alleged negligence of the RAF non-commissioned officer (NCO) was cited by the Accident Investigation Bureau as one of two main causes for the crash of the ATR-42 turbo-prop aircraft north of Pristina in November. The two-man Italian crew were also criticised for slipshod procedures. 

Three Britons were among those aboard the French-registered aircraft. It was chartered by the World Food Programme from the Italian SI-Fly airline, and was carrying aid workers from Rome to Kosovo. Nicholas Evens, 34, a builder from Birmingham, and Kevin Lay, 36, a building supervisor from Winchester, who both worked for Tear Fund, and Andrea Curry, 23, a construction engineer from Armagh, who was on her first aid mission for Goal, died. 

The investigators complained that Britain had refused permission to interview the NCO who was on duty - a claim that the RAF denied. The NCO, who was the sole approach control officer at the RAF-run airport, was not named, but the report said that he was aged 40, had qualified in 1990 and had had only five hours' training on the radar used at Pristina, and no experience in directing air traffic in areas of high terrain. 

Yesterday the RAF denied that its air controller was to blame, and said that it was still investigating the crash. A spokesman added: "We allowed the French every opportunity to speak to him and have offered to help in their investigation."