New Delhi : The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has initiated legal action against The Wall Street Journal and Reuters over their recent reports suggesting pilot error or cockpit confusion as the cause of the June 12 Air India crash. The federation has demanded an official apology from the media outlets, criticising them for what it describes as “selective and unverified reporting”. The FIP’s statement highlighted that such actions are “irresponsible”, especially while the investigation remains ongoing.
We are instructed to place on record that the publication of such speculative content is highly irresponsible, and has caused grave and irreparable harm to the reputation of the deceased pilots, who are unable to defend themselves, the legal notice said. The federation further emphasised that while the crash attracted significant public attention, it is not a time to “create public anxiety or angst towards the safety of the Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts”. The FIP has urged the media to refrain from speculating until the investigation is complete.
The pilot’s federation requested that the media desist from publishing or circulating any content that speculates on the cause of the crash or attributes fault to any individuals, especially deceased pilots, in the absence of official confirmation and final report. The FIP stressed that premature conclusions could jeopardise the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
In a statement posted, head of the top US probe body, Jennifer Homendy, criticised early assumptions and reporting on the incident and said, “Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time”.
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