'Speculative; Highly Irresponsible': 'Federation Of Indian Pilots' Sends Legal Notices To Reuters, WSJ Over Air India 171 Crash Coverage

The notice, issued by APJ-SLG Law Offices, refers to Reuters' July 17 article titled "Air India crash probe shifts focus on action of plane's captain – WSJ reports", and alleges that the publication "attributes speculative and unverified conclusions concerning the conduct of the pilots operating Flight 171".

"The article appears to rely on unverified sources and secondary reporting, and makes assertions that are neither substantiated by the official investigation nor endorsed by any competent authority", the notice states.

FPI has also taken exception to the report by WSJ titled "New Details in Air India Crash Probe Shift Focus to Senior Pilot".

For context, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, both members of FIP, were among the 260 individuals who lost their lives in the tragic incident, which is presently being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other competent authorities.

The legal notice cites the AAIB's public statement dated July 17, which warned against "selective and unverified reporting" by sections of the international media. It reminds Reuters and WPJ that such conduct "is irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing".

It may be noted that in its report, the AAIB had specifically stated thus:

"While the accident of this dimension has drawn public attention and shock, however, it needs to be appreciated that this is not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards safety of Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts".

FIP has also cautioned Reuters "to 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 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 reads.

It further asserts that Reuters' and WPJ's actions "have inflicted unnecessary distress on the bereaved families, and diminished the morale of the pilot fraternity, which operates under immense pressure and public responsibility".

Against this backdrop, the FIP had called upon both the media agencies to:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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 warns that failure to comply may compel FIP to pursue all legal remedies available under applicable law "for defamation, mental anguish, and reputational harm".

The tragic crash of an Air India plane, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, just minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad airport last week, has claimed more than 260 lives, including 242 people on board.

The incident also caused collateral damage to the lives of young medical students as the plane crashed into the B.J. Medical College Hostel's mess.