The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has initiated legal action against The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing them of publishing speculative and unverified reports on the June 12 Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives.
Confirming the development, FIP President Captain CS Randhawa told ANI that formal legal notices have been sent to both media organisations, demanding a public apology and withdrawal or correction of the controversial content.
In its communication to the outlets, the FIP condemned the coverage for drawing premature conclusions while the official investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is still ongoing. “Such actions are irresponsible,” the Federation stated, “especially while the investigation remains incomplete and no final report has been released.”
The legal notice specifically objected to any attribution of blame—particularly to the deceased pilots—without official confirmation. “Speculative content has caused irreparable harm to the reputation of deceased pilots, distressed bereaved families, and affected the morale of the aviation community,” the FIP said.
The Federation demanded that Reuters and WSJ:
- Cease and desist from publishing or circulating further speculative content,
- Review and amend the July 17 article to include a disclaimer and remove blame-attributing language,
- Issue a clarification acknowledging the lack of final conclusions from investigative authorities.
The notice warned that failure to comply would compel the Federation to pursue legal remedies for defamation and reputational damage.
Captain Randhawa welcomed the parallel statement by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which also criticised speculative media coverage. “The NTSB’s stance validates our concerns. Media must show responsibility when dealing with sensitive aviation incidents,” he said.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy had earlier affirmed that the AAIB’s preliminary report should not be treated as conclusive, and urged media outlets to refrain from drawing premature conclusions.
The FIP and NTSB’s strong responses come amid growing calls for responsible journalism in the aftermath of high-profile aviation disasters.
