Federation Of Indian Pilots Initiates Legal Action Against WSJ For Misleading Air India Crash Reports

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has taken legal action against The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. These media outlets reported that pilot error or cockpit confusion led to the Air India crash on June 12. The FIP claims these reports wrongly blamed the pilots without solid evidence.

In a formal notice, the federation demanded an apology from these media organisations. They criticised the reports as "selective and unverified," calling them "irresponsible" since the investigation is still ongoing. The FIP stressed that journalism should maintain integrity and not spread misinformation.

Impact on Families and Pilot Community

The legal notice stated, "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 FIP further highlighted that while public interest in the crash is high, it's crucial not to incite fear about aviation safety based on unverified facts. They urged media outlets to wait for the investigation's conclusion before making any assumptions.

Preliminary Findings from AAIB

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recently released a preliminary report. It revealed that just before impact, fuel control switches for both engines moved from "run" to "cutoff," stopping fuel supply. A conversation between pilots about these switches was noted, with one denying changing their position.

The federation asked media not to speculate or blame individuals, especially deceased pilots, without official confirmation. They warned that premature conclusions could harm the ongoing investigation's integrity.

International Concerns

On Friday, Jennifer Homendy from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) advised caution in reporting details of this probe. She stated that recent international reports were premature and lacked proper context.

Homendy said in a statement, "Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time."

AAIB's Response

The AAIB dismissed media claims as "unverified and selective reporting" regarding a pilot's alleged role in the crash. They emphasised that while such accidents draw attention, it's vital not to create public anxiety about aviation safety based on unfounded information.

The preliminary report detailed that the flight lasted around 30 seconds from takeoff until it crashed on June 12, killing at least 260 people including 19 on ground. After reaching maximum speed, fuel cutoff switches for both engines moved within a second but how they shifted mid-flight remains unexplained.

Though switches were returned to 'run', power couldn't be regained quickly enough once descent began due to altitude loss according to report findings.