Pilots Federations Sends Legal Notice to WSJ, Reuters Over AI 171 Crash Reports

Confirming the action, President of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), Captain CS Randhawa, told ANI that legal action has been initiated and a notice has been served to WSJ and Reuters over their reports, seeking an apology.

In an email to Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, the FIP stated: “It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing.”

“While the accident of this dimension has drawn public attention and shock, it needs to be appreciated that this is not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards the safety of the Indian aviation industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded fact,” the statement added.

Referring to the ongoing investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the FIP email further urged: “Desist from publishing or circulating any content that speculates on the cause of the crash or attributes fault to any individuals, especially deceased pilots, in the absence of official confirmation and final report.”

The FIP noted that the publication of 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.” It added that Reuters had also caused “unnecessary distress to the bereaved families” and “diminished the morale of the pilot fraternity, which operates under immense pressure and public responsibility.”

The FIP strongly urged the media outlets to refrain from further speculation. “In view of the above, and pending the release of conclusive findings from the official investigation, we are instructed to caution Reuters and all affiliated platforms against further dissemination or amplification of unverified, speculative, or unofficial theories relating to the crash and pilots operating the plane.”

The legal notice specifically called upon Reuters to:

Cease and desist from publishing or circulating any further content that speculates on the cause of the crash or attributes fault to any individuals, especially deceased pilots, in the absence of official confirmation and final report;

Promptly review and amend the article dated July 17, 2025, to include an appropriate disclaimer and remove any content that could be construed as attributing blame;

Issue a clarification acknowledging that no final conclusions have been released by the authorities and that the article was based on secondary reports.

The notice further cautioned: “Please note that failure to act in accordance with this notice may compel Our Client to pursue all legal remedies available under applicable law for defamation, mental anguish, and reputational harm.”

Speaking to ANI on the NTSB statement, Captain Randhawa said: “We are happy with the statement of the NTSB board. This will put a stop to the reports in the western media. They are in their own world and think they can publish and get away. The Indian report is very clear, we have to wait for the final report to come.”

The US federal agency, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), responsible for investigating aviation accidents and major transportation events in the US, issued a strong rebuke on Friday (local time) of recent media coverage of the preliminary report on the AI-171 crash, which claimed 260 lives in Ahmedabad last month.

In a statement, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said: “Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB’s public appeal, which was released Thursday, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB.”