https://sputniknews.in/20250719/india-pilots-federation-demands-apology-from-reuters-over-defamation-of-air-india-ai-171-crash-9472448.html
India Pilots Federation Demands Apology from Reuters Over Defamation of Air India AI 171 Crash
India Pilots Federation Demands Apology from Reuters Over Defamation of Air India AI 171 Crash
Sputnik India
The Federation of Indian Pilots has filed a lawsuit demanding apologies and retractions from both Reuters and The Wall Street Journal for what they describe as... 19.07.2025, Sputnik India
2025-07-19T19:04+0530
2025-07-19T19:04+0530
2025-07-19T19:04+0530
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The request, made in an official legal notice, follows claims by both media outlets that allegedly blamed the pilot for the crash without evidence.The crash occurred on June 12, 2025, when an Air India passenger plane, traveling from Ahmedabad to London, crashed near the airport in Gujarat, India. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, had 242 people aboard, including two pilots and ten flight attendants. Sadly, 275 people were reported dead, including those in a medical college dormitory where the plane fell. One passenger survived the crash.An initial report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that both fuel switches on the aircraft were switched from "Run" to "Cutoff" shortly after takeoff. The cockpit conversation indicated one pilot inquired why the fuel flow was stopped, with the other pilot denying any involvement. However, the AAIB’s report did not specify who switched the fuel cutoff switches, nor did it assign blame.Despite the AAIB's cautious language, The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources "familiar with the preliminary evaluation of evidence by U.S. authorities," suggested that the captain had intentionally switched off the fuel switches, a claim which was echoed by Reuters, implying the captain’s responsibility for the crash.The Federation of Indian Pilots, in its legal notice, demanded that both publications apologize and correct the false information. Captain Charanvir Randhawa, President of the Federation, emphasized that the AAIB report made no such claim and that the media outlets had failed to properly review the investigation. "They did not properly review the report, and we will take action," he stated.
https://sputniknews.in/20250712/indian-aircraft-accident-investigation-bureau-releases-report-on-air-india-crash-9436868.html
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India Pilots Federation Demands Apology from Reuters Over Defamation of Air India AI 171 Crash
The Federation of Indian Pilots has filed a lawsuit demanding apologies and retractions from both Reuters and The Wall Street Journal for what they describe as "unfounded" and "defamatory" reporting regarding the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171.
The request, made in an official legal notice, follows claims by both media outlets that allegedly blamed the pilot for the crash without evidence.
The crash occurred on June 12, 2025, when an Air India passenger plane, traveling from Ahmedabad to London, crashed near the airport in Gujarat, India. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, had 242 people aboard, including two pilots and ten flight attendants. Sadly, 275 people were reported dead, including those in a medical college dormitory where the plane fell. One passenger survived the crash.
An initial report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that both fuel switches on the aircraft were switched from "Run" to "Cutoff" shortly after takeoff. The cockpit conversation indicated one pilot inquired why the fuel flow was stopped, with the other pilot denying any involvement. However, the AAIB’s report did not specify who switched the fuel cutoff switches, nor did it assign blame.
Despite the AAIB's cautious language, The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources "familiar with the preliminary evaluation of evidence by U.S. authorities," suggested that the captain had intentionally switched off the fuel switches, a claim which was echoed by Reuters, implying the captain’s responsibility for the crash.
The Federation of Indian Pilots, in its legal notice, demanded that both publications apologize and correct the false information. Captain Charanvir Randhawa, President of the Federation, emphasized that the AAIB report made no such claim and that the media outlets had failed to properly review the investigation. "They did not properly review the report, and we will take action," he stated.
