Pilots’ Body Takes Action Against WSJ, Reuters Over Air India Reports

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) on Saturday sent a formal legal notice to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Reuters over their recent reports attributing the June 12 Air India crash to pilot error or cockpit confusion. The federation accused them of not basing their reports on factual content.

FIP initiated the legal action demanding an apology from the outlets for conducting "selective and unverified reporting". The complaint argues that the media should not retort to “irresponsible” coverage when the probe is still underway. The FIP President Captain SS Randhawa criticised them for “misleading the public," ANI reported. 

"I would totally blame the Wall Street Journal for misleading the public, they come out with their own conclusions. Are they the investigative body? They're talking all this crap around the world. They are not the investigative body, and the reports are not based on any factual content, which is mentioned in the preliminary report. So, how can they jump to conclusions and give press statements around the world?" he told ANI.

What does the Notice say?

“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. 

It further added that the “unfounded facts” would create “public anxiety towards the safety of the Indian Aviation Industry.”

The head of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had earlier released a statement urging caution in the reporting details of the Air India probe asserting that the recent reports lacked proper investigative context.