New Delhi: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has issued a legal notice to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing the global media outlets of publishing misleading and speculative reports on the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed over 250 lives last month.
FIP President Captain CS Randhawa criticized the foreign publications for attributing possible blame to the cockpit crew—claims not supported by the preliminary findings of India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
“They’re not the investigating authority. Their assumptions aren’t in the report and are entirely misleading,” Randhawa told ANI. The FIP has demanded a formal apology and a public explanation from both media houses. Legal action may follow if they fail to justify their reporting, the notice warns.
The reports drew global criticism, prompting a rare intervention from Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is assisting in the probe. She called the coverage “premature and speculative”, urging restraint while the investigation is ongoing.
“Such accidents require time for thorough analysis. All queries should be directed to the AAIB,” she said in her statement.
Randhawa welcomed the NTSB’s remarks as a strong rebuttal of “reckless journalism” and a defense of the professional integrity of Indian pilots.
The AAIB’s preliminary report, released earlier this month, refrained from assigning blame, stating that the full investigation could take months. It also appealed to the media and public to avoid unfounded speculation and let investigators do their job.
