Looks like Asiana Airlines won’t sue KTVU after all. Here’s the airline’s statement:
Asiana Airlines had intended to pursue legal action for a regrettable report on July 12 made by local San Francisco Bay Area broadcasting station KTVU. The report referred to the names of the pilots by using racially charged epithets. It profoundly disparaged Asiana, its employees, and all Asians. Asiana deplores the hateful words of the broadcast.
Asiana Airlines, however, has decided to not pursue legal action as a result of a public apology by KTVU for the report in question and its determination to keep all of its resources dedicated to caring for the passengers and family members of Asiana flight 214 and supporting the investigation into the cause of the accident.
It’s unclear if the company execs had a change of heart, or if the original threat of a lawsuit was just to prove a point. Regardless, the Fox affiliate that misidentified the Asiana pilots on board the 777 when it crash-landed as “Sum Ting Wong,” “Wi Tu Lo,” “Ho Lee Fuk,” and “Bang Ding Ow” is now in the clear. The NTSB intern who “erroneously confirmed” the names in question wasn’t so lucky, however: he lost his resume-building gig at the agency.
Backstory here, if anyone needs a refresher.
