The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has issued a legal notice against The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The FIP accuses both organisations of publishing "baseless" and "defamatory" stories about the crash of Air India Flight AI-171.

What the AAIB Report Found

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recently released a preliminary report about the June 12 crash of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The report states that both fuel control switches moved from "Run" to "Cutoff" shortly after takeoff. Cockpit recordings reveal that one pilot asked why the fuel had been shut off, while the other pilot replied he had not done it. However, the report does not clarify who switched off the fuel controls, nor does it blame any specific person.

Media Reports Blamed the Captain

Despite the report’s lack of conclusions, The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources claiming that the captain had deliberately turned off the fuel switches. Reuters carried a similar report suggesting the captain was responsible.

Pilots Demand Apologies and Corrections

The FIP has now demanded both media outlets issue a formal apology and correct their reports. FIP President Captain CS Randhawa said, "Nowhere in the report has it been mentioned that the fuel control switch was turned off due to the pilot’s mistake... They have not read the report properly, and we will take action."

Warnings Against Speculative Reporting

Other Indian pilot associations, including the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA-I), have warned against drawing conclusions too early. They cautioned that such speculation could damage public confidence in Indian aviation.

AAIB Urges Respect for Investigation Process

The AAIB has criticised international media for misrepresenting the findings. It urged reporters to respect the victims’ families and stressed that the investigation remains at a preliminary stage.

NTSB Also Rejects Media Claims

In the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) supported India’s investigators. Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said, "Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative." She added, "Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB's public appeal... and will continue to support its ongoing investigation."

The FIP’s legal action highlights the controversy surrounding media coverage of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash. Both Indian and American aviation authorities have called for patience as the investigation continues.