A Guide to Navigating the Media After a Plane Crash

Once again —though thankfully less frequently in recent decades— the world woke up today shaken by a new air tragedy: a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, while operating flight AI171 to London-Gatwick, killing an as-yet-undetermined number of people. There were 242 passengers onboard, but fatalities on the ground have not been ruled out.

In light of the information overload we will all face in the coming hours and days, we're reissuing this piece originally published in March 2019. At that time, Aviacionline did not cover accidents because we believed it was irresponsible to speculate while the wreckage was still smoking — and because aviation accident investigations are serious and lengthy efforts that deserve respect for the professionals carrying them out.

We later shifted to a model we called “What we know,” in which we limit ourselves to stating the confirmed facts about an accident, without speculation or sensationalism — a standard we’ve largely upheld since then. That said, we're not infallible, and we allow for human error.

Today, however, it’s worth addressing how some media outlets and individuals seem determined to stir up fear of flying, and how readers can avoid falling into that trap.

Despite the fact that aviation safety continues to improve year after year (albeit not without setbacks), a crack in the constantly evolving safety net —built from decades of tragedy and thorough investigation— often triggers the worst instincts of mainstream media and self-proclaimed “analysts” or “experts.”

Filling airtime with tragedy to boost ratings, publishing photos of wrecked planes for clicks, tossing out wild theories to gain followers or credibility on social media, or pointing fingers to promote an agenda — these are common reactions every time a major air accident occurs.

Sadly, most people still rely on the same usual sources for news, even if it means risking exposure to misinformation or sensationalist coverage.

But maybe that doesn't have to be the case. That’s why I’m presenting this short —and hopefully useful— "Guide to staying informed about an air accident without being poisoned by the noise."

This guide, as I noted in the original 2019 post, can apply at any time (though, let’s hope it won’t be necessary again for a long time).

Let’s take it step by step.

You hear through a WhatsApp group or see a tweet that an air accident just happened — what should you do?

Well, first, what NOT to do: don’t turn on the TV and watch a news channel. You’ll just find the same three video clips looping endlessly while a staff member who may know slightly more about airplanes is forced to give unbearable commentary.

You may also be subjected to a so-called “expert” who, if they have any self-respect (which is rare), will only say “it’s too early to draw conclusions,” despite the anchors’ obvious push to extract sensational details. (Refusing to play that game is one reason why we stopped accepting invites to appear on radio or TV.)

Same goes for the radio.

Should you check news websites? Sure — if you can hold your breath and avoid clickbait headlines like “shocking photos of…” or “what the pilot said before the crash.” These may be valid sources, especially if they’re simply reposting content from international news agencies, which tend to stick to the facts. But avoid the comments section at all costs. And brace yourself for the possibility that the photo used isn’t even of the correct aircraft model.

Aviation-specific websites like this one? In general, they stick to the facts without indulging in theories, so they’re a valid source. But in self-critique, I’ll admit that many of us have shared overly graphic photos or videos that add little value to the actual news.

Okay — so you found out about the accident, visited a news site, and managed to get some basic facts without losing your mind. What if you want more information right now?

One great source is AvHerald.com, a site that has for years been tracking aviation incidents and accidents with a commendable effort to present raw data. While the comments section may contain speculation, it also hosts contributions from people who clearly work in the aviation industry. Use your judgment to decide what’s worth your time.

Yes, you can also visit forums like Airliners.net or PPRuNe, but be warned: deep discussions can be dizzying. For every well-informed insider, you’ll find plenty of armchair experts.

As for social media, I’d avoid it — unless aimless debate is your thing. Do check the official accounts of the airline involved, the aircraft manufacturer, or the civil aviation authority of the country where the crash occurred. For example, in Argentina it would be the Junta de Investigación de Accidentes de Aviación Civil; in the U.S., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

In this case, you can find Air India’s tweets with official press releases about Thursday’s accident, and also Boeing’s statements, as the aircraft was manufactured by them. The NTSB is also involved, depending on international coordination.

Still can’t sleep without knowing why the plane crashed? Sorry — you won’t know tonight, tomorrow, or even next month. So ignore anyone offering theories without being part of the investigation team.

Tracing the path back from the moment of tragedy to the root cause of an air accident is painstaking work that can take months or even years. There may be preliminary reports issued by investigation bodies, but the final report —which dives deep into the causes and, most importantly, offers recommendations to prevent similar accidents— will only come much later.

Each of those final reports is an invaluable document that helps improve aviation safety across the globe — one of the main reasons why commercial air travel remains the safest mode of transportation for decades now.

And to put things in perspective, here’s a tweet we posted just last week during the IATA Annual General Meeting, held —in a tragic coincidence— in India:

Temas

• Air India

AUTOR

Edgardo Gimenez Mazó

Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline. Base: ROS Origen: RES

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