Pilot body sends legal notice to WSJ, Reuters over Air India crash; seeks apology
The federation further stressed that although the crash has drawn widespread public attention, this is not the time to "generate fear or distrust about the safety of the Indian aviation sector, especially based on unverified claims."
PTC News Desk: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has taken legal action against The Wall Street Journal and Reuters over recent reports that implied pilot error or cockpit confusion as the cause of the June 12 Air India crash. The FIP claimed the reports wrongly pointed to pilot error without any concrete evidence.
In an official legal notice, the federation demanded a public apology from both media outlets, accusing them of "selective and unverified reporting." The FIP called the coverage "irresponsible," particularly given that the investigation is still ongoing. The statement also emphasized the importance of journalistic responsibility and cautioned against spreading misinformation that could mislead the public.
"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. In doing so, Reuters has also inflicted unnecessary distress on the bereaved families, and diminished the morale of the pilot fraternity, which operates under immense pressure and public responsibility," the legal notice said.
The federation further stressed that although the crash has drawn widespread public attention, this is not the time to "generate fear or distrust about the safety of the Indian aviation sector, especially based on unverified claims." The FIP has called on media outlets to avoid speculation and wait for the investigation to conclude.
According to the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the fuel control switches on the aircraft had shifted from the “run” to the “cutoff” position just before the crash, effectively cutting off fuel to both engines. The report also referenced a cockpit exchange in which one pilot asked the other if he had changed the switches’ position, to which the second pilot responded that he had not.