New Delhi [India], July 19: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has served legal notices to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing them of publishing speculative and misleading reports on the tragic Air India AI-171 crash that occurred on June 12 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The crash claimed 260 lives.
The FIP, through its legal counsel, has demanded a formal apology and urged the outlets to amend or remove sections of their coverage that allegedly suggest blame—particularly directed at the deceased pilots—while the official investigation remains incomplete.
Confirming the move, FIP President Capt. CS Randhawa told,
“We’ve taken legal action and issued formal notices. Irresponsible reporting has caused immense damage to the reputation of the deceased pilots and the morale of the pilot community.”
Key Concerns Raised by the FIP:
- The reports by Reuters and WSJ are described as unverified and selective, allegedly creating public anxiety over the safety of Indian aviation.
- The FIP strongly objects to any attempt to attribute blame without conclusions from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
- The legal notice demands the articles be amended with disclaimers and a clarification issued acknowledging that no official findings have been released.
“Such speculative content is highly irresponsible… It has caused grave and irreparable harm to the reputation of deceased pilots who cannot defend themselves,” the FIP said in its legal communication.
Support from U.S. Investigators
In a rare public statement, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy also denounced recent international media coverage as premature and speculative.
“India’s AAIB has only released a preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support AAIB’s appeal for restraint,” she said.
FIP’s Legal Demands to Reuters and WSJ:
- Cease further publication of speculative content on the crash.
- Amend or remove potentially defamatory content.
- Publish a clarification acknowledging the reports were based on secondary sources.
- Avoid attributing fault until the AAIB’s final report is released.
The FIP has warned that failure to comply could lead to legal proceedings for defamation, mental anguish, and reputational harm.
Background
The AI-171 crash remains under active investigation by the AAIB, with assistance from the U.S. NTSB. While the cause has not yet been officially determined, international media reports have speculated on pilot error and aircraft maintenance issues—claims the FIP says are damaging and unfounded.