Minister, Pilots Condemn Media Over Air India Crash

India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) have condemned international media, particularly The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, for attributing blame to pilots in the aftermath of the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. The FIP issued legal notices to both outlets, demanding retractions and apologies for what they describe as speculative reporting unsupported by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary findings. Minister Naidu highlighted that, for the first time, India decoded the black box data domestically, emphasizing the transparency and impartiality of the ongoing investigation. Both the FIP and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged restraint in public commentary until the official investigation concludes. The FIP warned that speculative reporting damages pilots’ reputations and undermines public trust in aviation safety. The incident underscores growing friction between Indian officials and Western media over responsible reporting in aviation disasters.