The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), India's top pilot body, has issued legal notices to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Reuters over their coverage of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash that occurred on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad. The FIP is demanding apologies and retractions for what it deems "baseless" and "defamatory" reporting on the tragedy, which resulted in the death of 260 people.
The legal action stems from reports by the WSJ and Reuters that allegedly misrepresented the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and prematurely cast blame on the pilots. According to reports, the WSJ, citing unnamed sources "familiar with US officials' early assessment of evidence," suggested that the captain deliberately turned off the fuel switches. A Reuters story echoed this assertion, implying the captain was at fault.
The FIP strongly প্রতিবাদ this coverage, asserting that the reports were speculative and based on unverified information. FIP President Captain CS Randhawa stated that the AAIB report did not mention any pilot error as the cause of the fuel switch being turned off. He accused the media outlets of not properly reading the report and drawing conclusions not supported by official findings.
In the legal notice, the FIP demands a public apology and correction from both WSJ and Reuters. The pilot body urges the media outlets to cease publishing speculative content and await the official AAIB report. The FIP has asked for a press statement explaining their reportage of the AAIB preliminary reports. The legal notice also calls on Reuters to revise its article dated July 17, 2025, to include an appropriate disclaimer and remove any content that could imply pilot fault. The FIP is also seeking a clarification stating that no final conclusions have been issued by authorities and that the article was based on secondary sources.
Several pilot associations, including the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA-I), have also criticized the speculative media narratives, warning that they could damage public trust in India's aviation system. The AAIB has also rebuked international media, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and too preliminary to determine a definitive cause.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is assisting the AAIB in the investigation, also weighed in on the matter. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called on the public and media to avoid speculation and respect the thorough, methodical nature of aviation accident investigations. She stated that complex inquiries like this require time, collaboration, and factual accuracy.
Captain Randhawa welcomed the NTSB's statement, expressing hope that it would help curb misinformation and reinforce public trust in the official inquiry. He condemned the speculative coverage as damaging and irresponsible, saying it undermines the integrity of the investigative process.
The legal notice warns that failure to comply with the demands may compel the FIP to pursue all legal remedies available under applicable law for defamation, mental anguish, and reputational harm. The FIP's action highlights the sensitivity surrounding the AI-171 crash investigation and the importance of accurate and responsible reporting in such situations.
