The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has issued a legal notice, accusing Reuters and WSJ of speculative content regarding the Air India AI171 crash. Among the 5000 pilots in the association were the two deceased in the Ahmedabad plane crash, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder. As per the legal notice issued by the FIP, Reuters relied on “unverified sources and secondary reporting,” implying that the pilots are responsible for the fatal civil aviation tragedy on June 12.

This comes after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) issued its preliminary report on the Air India AI 171 crash on July 12. While the report made no concrete conclusion on why the Boeing plane crashed, media reports drew several conclusions, several of which blamed the pilots. The Indian Pilots’ Association rejected all such allegations and criticised the prejudiced reporting.

FIP legal notice to Reuters

The legal notice issued on behalf of the FIP also stated that, “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.”

FIP demanded a “cease and desist” on Reuters publishing any content that speculated on the cause of the crash, especially the deceased pilots. They also urged Reuters to review and amend the published article and issue a clarification that acknowledges no conclusion has been drawn by the authorities probing into the Air India crash.

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Finally, FIP also stated that such reporting has ” inflicted unnecessary distress on the bereaved families, and diminished the morale of the pilot fraternity”. Captain CS Randhawa, President of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) told ANI that, “Nowhere in the report has it been mentioned that the fuel control switch was turned off due to the pilot’s mistake. I condemn the article by the Wall Street Journal…”

What did the AAIB report say?

The Air India preliminary crash report issued by the AAIB identified the wreckage and damage caused by the AI171 Ahmedabad plane crash. It also explained the various causes that might have led to the mishap. It was revealed that the engine fuel was cut off mid-air just seconds after take-off, and the cockpit recorder (CVR) registered the last conversation between the pilots. The question of “why did you cut off the fuel?” led to multiple claims and led the FIP to take legal action.

On the other hand, the pilot body in its recent statement has flagged the possibility of an electronic and mechanical failure. They pointed out a possible snag in the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system which adjusts things like fuel flow and engine speed automatically; sometimes even bypassing the pilot controls.