'Twisting Facts': Pilots' Federation Slap Legal Notice To WSJ, Reuters Over AI171 Crash Reports
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has issued a legal notice to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing the international outlets of publishing “defamatory” and “baseless” reports about the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI‑171. The pilot union is demanding public apologies and full retractions from both organizations, according to a report by news agency ANI.
The controversy stems from coverage following the release of a preliminary investigation report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The report, which details the early findings into the June 12 crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, revealed that both of the aircraft’s fuel control switches had moved from “Run” to “Cutoff” shortly after takeoff. However, it did not specify who operated the switches or assign fault.
Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut, to which the other responded that he had not done it. The AAIB’s report stopped short of attributing the incident to human error, making no definitive claims about the actions of the flight crew.
Despite this, The Wall Street Journal published a story quoting unnamed sources “familiar with US officials’ early assessment of evidence,” suggesting that the captain may have intentionally shut off the fuel. Reuters echoed similar implications, pointing toward pilot error—sparking outrage among India’s aviation community.
“The report clearly does not state that the pilot was responsible for switching off the fuel controls,” said Captain C.S. Randhawa, President of the FIP. “They’ve either misread it or are choosing to twist the facts. We will take appropriate action.”
Pilot Associations Warn of Damage to Public Trust
Support for the FIP’s stance has been growing among India’s aviation fraternity. The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA‑I) and other industry groups have urged media outlets to exercise caution, warning that speculative reporting could erode public confidence in the safety and integrity of India’s aviation system.
The AAIB also weighed in, issuing a firm statement condemning the international media coverage. It stressed the importance of maintaining respect for the families of the victims and emphasized that the investigation is still in its early stages—far from conclusive.
AAIB: No Conclusions Yet, Investigation Ongoing
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau clarified that the preliminary report is meant to share early observations—not to assign blame or draw conclusions. In light of this, the agency appealed for restraint and accurate representation of the facts by global media outlets.
The bureau reiterated its commitment to a thorough and transparent probe, underscoring that aviation investigations are complex processes requiring time, collaboration, and care.
NTSB Urges Patience, Slams Speculative Reports
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is assisting with the investigation, also called out premature conclusions drawn by media outlets. Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy criticized the reports as speculative and urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions based on incomplete information.
“India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has only released a preliminary report. These kinds of investigations are complex and take time,” Homendy stated. “We fully support the AAIB’s public appeal and will continue to work closely with them. All questions related to the investigation should be directed to the AAIB”
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