New Delhi: The Federation of Indian Pilot (FIP) has initiated legal action against the International Media Outlets – Reuters and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on its coverage of Air India Flight 171 crash, which took place in Ahmedabad on June 12, resulting in 260 people.FIP Chairman Captain CS Randhawa confirmed the ANI news agency that both Reuters and WSJ had been given a legal notice, demanding a public waiver to describe the pilots’ bodies as “selective and unacceptable reporting”.In an email addressed to both outlets, the FIP said: “It has come to our attention that some sections of the international media are repeatedly trying to draw conclusions through selective and unaware reporting. Such action is irresponsible, especially while investigation is on. ,Accepting public shock after the accident, the bodies of pilots said: “While the accident of this dimension has given public attention and shock, however, it is necessary to appreciate that it is not time to create public anxiety or anger for the safety of the Indian aviation industry, especially based on unfounded facts.”Referring to the ongoing investigation led by the Bureau of Aircraft Investigation Bureau of Investigation (AAIB), the FIP urged the outlets to “publish or publish any material or publish any material, which makes any person, especially the deceased pilots in the absence of official confirmation and the absence of final reports.”The legal notice further stated: “We are instructed to keep on records that the publication of such speculative material is highly irresponsible, and has suffered severe and irreparable losses to the reputation of the deceased pilots, unable to defend themselves. In doing so, Reuters have also affected unnecessary crisis on bereaved families, and have reduced the morale of the pilot fraternity, which operates under immense pressure and public responsibility.,The FIP has demanded that media outlets avoid any further speculation. “In view of the above, and pending the release of decisive conclusions from the official investigation, we are warned and all affiliated platforms relate to accidental spread or uneven, speculative, or informal principles against accidents and operating the aircraft related to pilots against the amplification of infatuation or uneven, speculative, or informal principles.”Legal notice calls on the Reuters to stop publishing or distributing any further content on the cause of the accident or assigning the blame without official confirmation. It also asks Reuters to modify its article on July 17, 2025, to include a proper disconnection and remove any material that can be the pilot’s mistake.The FIP further demanded an explanation that no final conclusion has been released by the authorities and the article was based on secondary sources.Notice warns: “Please note that the failure to work according to this notice can force our customer to carry forward all the legal measures available under the law applicable for defamation, mental persuasion and iconic loss.”Reacting to the statement of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), supporting the AAIB investigation, Captain Randhawa said: “We are happy with the NTSB board statement. This will prevent reports in Western media. They are in their world and think they can publish and go away. Indian report is very clear, we have to wait for the final report to come. ,The NTSB had earlier issued a statement criticizing the global media coverage of the accident investigation. NTSB President Jennifer Homendi said: “The recent media report on Air India is ahead of time in the 171 accident. India’s aircraft accident bureau has just released its preliminary report. It takes time to investigate this magnitude. We fully support the AAIB’s public appeal, which was issued on Thursday, and will continue to support the ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to Aaib. ,
