Before we hang, condemn, and fire, lets' get the facts. Then make a decsion. I believe that's still taught in the military, too.
You wouldn't have time to read the number of experiences I can list from memory right here concerning things I've found following post maintenance walk-throughs that required attention. Forgotton tools, loose items, misrigged controls (once), capped fuel lines, incorrect safety wire, abandoned roles of safety wire, a generator hanging loose following installation, fuel and oil manually shut off, bleeds disconnected, missing covers and panels, missing fasteners, and a host of other items. I once asked a returning pilot how his electrical had been behaving in flight and the output from XXX generator, and he said fine. I showed him that it wasn't attached, and was incapable of outputting anything. He was surprised, but he hadn't caught it, and had flown it on several missions. Go figure.
The fact is that things happen. In this case, an article in a newspaper has given a possible definite maybe. We all know that the media prints only the accurate truth, and that when a story reaches the papers, no further investigation is necessary or warranted, because that's the bottom line. However, my instinct as a pilot, mechanic, inspector, instructor, flight engineer, and practiced airport bum tell me that it's probably worth waiting to get the facts before sharpening the guillotine.
Regardless, I've found that in virtually all cases (expect intentional neglect, and that is very rare indeed), re-education and training is far better than rashly firing someone or ruining their career. We don't make mistakes. We just learn great lessons. What lessons can be learned here?