Legal action taken against Western press due to Air India collision reporting
(MENAFN) The Federation of Indian Pilots has issued a legal notice to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing them of spreading “irresponsible” and damaging reports about last month’s fatal Air India crash. Captain MR Wadia, head of the federation, told RT that the coverage unfairly blamed the flight crew and harmed their reputations.
The tragic incident occurred on June 12 when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for the UK crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff. The crash killed 241 of the 242 people onboard, as well as 19 people on the ground. A preliminary investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that cockpit fuel switches were turned off shortly after takeoff, leading to engine failure. However, the reason behind this action remains unknown.
According to Wadia, certain Western outlets — particularly WSJ and Reuters — misrepresented these findings, prematurely attributing the crash to pilot error. He said, “From the very beginning, Western media figures dressed as pilots were making claims like, ‘we know exactly what happened,’ and blaming the crew.” Wadia criticized these claims as “irrational” and “irresponsible,” insisting the pilots performed admirably under difficult circumstances.
He explained that the legal notice serves as a formal warning and a demand for accuracy in reporting rather than speculation. When asked why these reports emerged so quickly, Wadia pointed to financial motives. “If Boeing is ultimately found responsible due to equipment failure, there are financial implications,” he said. “So there’s an effort to shift the narrative onto pilot error from the start.”
Although the AAIB’s report has not directly blamed Boeing, India’s aviation regulator has mandated inspections of fuel systems on all Boeing aircraft operating domestically. Wadia declined to comment on why the switches were turned off, emphasizing that further investigation is needed. However, he urged Western media to avoid assigning blame while the inquiry remains ongoing.
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