Asiana Airlines had dropped plans to sue a US television station that aired fake and racially offensive names for four pilots involved in a fatal crash in San Francisco.
The South Korean airline said it was planning a defamation lawsuit against Fox network affiliate KTVU news for using the fake ‘Korean-sounding’ names: “Sum Ting Wong,” “Wi Tu Lo,” “Ho Lee Fuk,” and “Bang Ding Ow.”
KTVU cited the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as its source, AFP reports.
The network quickly aired a correction after realizing the mistake. The NTSB later offered its own apology, blaming a summer intern for “erroneously confirming” the names.
Asiana said it prefers to focus on supporting passengers and families affected by the accident after three people were killed.
The airline’s decision also came as it emerged a Chicago law firm had taken steps to sue Boeing on behalf of 83 people who were aboard the flight.
Ribbeck Law Chartered said in a news release that additional pleadings will be filed against Asiana Airlines and several component parts manufacturers in the coming days, Sky News reports.
“We must find the causes of the crash and demand that the problems with the airline and the aircraft are immediately resolved to avoid future tragedies,” an attorney with Ribbeck said in a statement.
