The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has issued legal notices to the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, accusing them of publishing “unverified” and “selective” reports that suggest pilot error in the recent fatal Air India crash. The pilots’ association has also demanded a formal and unconditional apology from both the media organisations.

FIP president Captain C S Randhawa confirmed that legal action had been initiated against the two international news outlets for publishing speculative content while the official investigation is still ongoing.
 

‘Irresponsible and selective reporting’

In its notice, the FIP strongly criticised what it described as a pattern of “selective and unverified reporting” by certain international media platforms. “It has come to our attention that some global outlets are repeatedly drawing conclusions based on incomplete and speculative information. This kind of reporting is highly irresponsible, especially when the investigation into the crash is yet to be concluded,” the notice stated.

The federation stressed that while the tragic nature of the crash has understandably drawn widespread attention, media coverage must not contribute to public panic about the safety of India’s aviation sector. “This is not the time to stoke public anxiety or cast doubts on the safety record of the Indian aviation industry, especially in the absence of verified facts,” the statement read.

Allegations of causing distress and reputational harm

FIP’s notice also took serious exception to what it termed as “speculative content”, which it said had caused lasting damage to the reputation of the deceased pilots, who are no longer in a position to defend themselves. “By publishing such reports, Reuters has not only disrespected the memory of the pilots involved but also caused undue trauma to their grieving families and undermined the morale of the pilot community,” the notice added.

The pilots’ body has warned both Reuters and Wall Street Journal against releasing any further speculative content on the crash until the final report from the official inquiry is released.

Specifically addresses Reuters

Specifically addressing Reuters, the FIP asked the news agency to reassess its article published on July 17, remove any speculative attribution of blame and include a clear disclaimer. The notice cautioned that further dissemination of unverified narratives could invite additional legal consequences.

Earlier, the Aircraft Accident and Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had also raised concerns—without naming any outlet—about attempts by certain international media organisations to reach premature conclusions about the crash using unverified information.