Indian pilots’ body slams WSJ, Reuters over AI-171 crash coverage; issues legal notice, seeks apology

Western media reports suggested that the crash may have been caused by errors or actions from the cockpit crew, statements which the FIP says were completely absent from the AAIB’s official findings.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has issued a strong legal notice to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing both global media outlets of publishing misleading and speculative reports about the Air India Flight 171 crash, which claimed over 250 lives in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad last month.

FIP President Captain CS Randhawa said the reports were not based on facts mentioned in the official preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

“They are not the investigative body, so how can they jump to conclusions?” Randhawa told ANI. “They’re spreading all this around the world that’s not even in the report. It’s totally misleading.”

Western media reports suggested that the crash may have been caused by errors or actions from the cockpit crew, statements which the FIP says were completely absent from the AAIB’s official findings.

FIP’s legal notice demands a public explanation and an official apology, asking the organisations to clarify their reporting.

“We’ve asked them to explain how they arrived at conclusions that aren’t in the preliminary report. If they fail to do that, we’ll consider further legal action,” Randhawa added.

The controversy prompted a statement from Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is jointly investigating the crash along with AAIB.

Homendy called the media coverage “premature and speculative”, saying it was inappropriate to draw conclusions from an ongoing probe.

“Investigations of this magnitude take time… All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB,” Homendy said in her official statement.

Randhawa welcomed the NTSB’s support, calling it a crucial validation of Indian pilots’ professionalism and a rebuke to irresponsible media coverage.

“It’s heartening that the NTSB issued this statement. It puts to rest all the blame being unfairly placed on Indian pilots,” he said.

India’s AAIB recently released a preliminary report into the AI-171 crash, but did not assign blame or make final conclusions about the cause. The full investigation is still underway, and such findings typically take months to complete.

AAIB also issued a public appeal, urging the media and the public to refrain from speculation and allow investigators to do their job thoroughly.