Mumbai: The Indian government has already called out some foreign media outlets for “irresponsible” reporting on last month’s Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, based on a preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Now, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has sent a legal notice to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters news agency for suggesting pilot error or cockpit confusion as the cause of the horrific June 12 crash that resulted in 260 people losing their lives.
Pointing out that their reports attributed the cause of the crash to pilot error, without substantiated evidence, FIP has demanded an official apology from the media outlets for indulging in “selective and unverified reporting”.
“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 stated.
FIP emphasised that the crash attracted significant public attention, and it is not a time to “create public anxiety or angst towards the safety of the Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts”.
Highlighting that such actions are “irresponsible”, especially while the investigation is ongoing, the pilots’ body said urged the media to uphold journalistic integrity and avoid spreading misinformation that could mislead the public.
In its preliminary report on the investigation, AAIB said earlier this week that fuel control switches for the engines of the ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft had moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position moments before it crashlanded into a medical college hostel building, cutting off fuel supply to both engines. The report also cited a conversation between the pilots regarding the fuel switches, with one pilot asking the other if he had changed their position, and the second pilot denying.
FIP urged the media to refrain from publishing or circulating any content that speculates on the cause of the crash or attributes fault to any individuals, especially deceased pilots, in the absence of official confirmation and final report. It stressed that premature conclusions could jeopardise the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The head of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also urged caution in reporting details of the Air India probe, saying that recent international media reports were premature and lack proper investigative context.
