Pilot Body Starts Legal Action on US Media Firm, News Agency
The notice stated that the reports had: “Inflicted unnecessary distress on the bereaved families and diminished the morale of the pilot fraternity, which operates under immense pressure and public responsibility.”
New Delhi: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has reportedly initiated legal action against a US-based publication and a global news agency over recent reports that allegedly implied one of the pilots of the ill-fated Air India (AI-171) flight was responsible for the June 12 plane crash.
According to media sources, the pilots’ body has alleged that the reports were published without any substantiated evidence. The legal notice, as quoted in media reports, stated: “We are instructed to place on record that the publication of such speculative content is highly irresponsible and has caused grave and irreparable harm to the reputation of the deceased pilots, who are unable to defend themselves.”
The notice further stated that the reports had: “Inflicted unnecessary distress on the bereaved families and diminished the morale of the pilot fraternity, which operates under immense pressure and public responsibility.”
The tragic incident occurred on June 12, when the London-bound AI-171 flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. Of the 242 people on board, including the two pilots, all but one perished. Additionally, 19 individuals on the ground were also killed in the crash.