In a strong response to international media coverage, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has issued legal notices to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Reuters, alleging “baseless” and “defamatory” reporting on the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI-171.
The controversy arose after both publications cited unnamed sources suggesting the captain may have deliberately turned off the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff. However, India’s official preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) offers no such conclusion or attribution of blame.
“Nowhere in the report has it been mentioned that the fuel control switch was turned off due to the pilot’s mistake,” said Captain CS Randhawa, President of FIP.
“They have not read the report properly, and we will take action,” he added.
🛫 What the Report Says
The AAIB’s preliminary findings state that both fuel control switches were toggled from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’, shortly after takeoff—shutting down both engines. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking, “Why is the fuel cut off?” while the other responded, “I didn’t do it.”
Despite this, the AAIB has not identified who toggled the switches nor determined whether it was intentional or accidental.
⚠️ Response from Authorities and Experts
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States, which is also involved in the investigation, released a statement condemning speculative reporting.
“Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative,” said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy.
“Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB’s appeal and urge that all investigative questions be directed to them.”
The AAIB echoed similar sentiments, asking the media to respect the ongoing process and avoid jeopardizing public trust or hurting the families of victims.
👥 Pilot Associations Stand United
Several Indian pilot associations, including the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA-I), have backed FIP’s legal move, saying the misreporting could tarnish the reputation of Indian pilots and erode public confidence in the aviation sector.