The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has reportedly issued a legal notice to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters over their coverage of the Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad, demanding a public apology for what they called inaccurate and misleading reporting.

FIP President Captain CS Randhawa accused both international outlets of misrepresenting facts, claiming their stories were not aligned with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary findings on the incident.

According to news agency ANI, Randhawa said the reports amounted to disinformation and lacked a factual basis. “I would wholly blame the Wall Street Journal for misguiding the public. They issue their own findings. Are they the investigating authority? They are speaking all this nonsense all over the world. They are not the investigating authority, and the reports are not even based on any factual material, which is stated in the preliminary report. Then how can they make conclusions and issue press releases all over the world?” he told ANI.

He said FIP has formally served a legal notice demanding that both publications clarify their interpretation of the AAIB’s initial report and publicly address their conclusions.

“We condemn it strongly, and we've also sent legal notices to Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. We've clearly indicated how can you make such conclusions which are not included in the preliminary report of the AAIB? How can you hold the pilots responsible? So we've requested an explanation and have requested that you issue a statement to the media,” Randhawa stated.

“And if they do not do so, then we will see additional action,” he added.

Captain Randhawa also welcomed the statement from the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which denounced media speculation around the crash.

He said the NTSB’s intervention would help push back against what he called “speculative” narratives targeting Indian pilots. “We are pleased that this report has been released by the NTSB chairman because NTSB also sits on the investigation committee in the AIIB. It is extremely, extremely reassuring to hear that they have made this announcement, which will lay all the Western media to rest, to indulge in speculations and Indian pilots' bashing,” he said.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy urged media and the public to refrain from drawing early conclusions and to wait for the final report from India’s AAIB.

“Recent news reporting on the crash of Air India 171 is premature and speculative. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has just issued its preliminary report. Investigations of this type are time-consuming. We wholeheartedly endorse the AAIB's public request, issued Thursday, and will continue to support its current investigation. All inquiry questions should be directed to the AAIB,” Homendy said.