Anchor Read Offensive Bogus Names Of Pilots During Newscast

A San Francisco television station finds itself facing legal action after an anchor read false, racially insensitive names it attributed to the pilots of Flight 214 during a newscast last Friday. The anchor apologized on air immediately following a commercial break.

The names were also shown on graphics produced by the station (pictured in capture from YouTube). They included Capt. Sum Ting Wong and Wi Tu Lo. The names were presented next to an image of the burned-out fuselage of the airplane.

Asiana Airlines said through a spokeswoman that the suit against television station KTVU-TV is intended to "strongly respond to its racially discriminatory report." The Associated Press reports that the suit will likely be filed in a U.S. Court, though a specific jurisdiction was not mentioned.

The video of the incident has gone viral via YouTube. The NTSB last week issued an apology, indicating that a "summer intern" had confirmed the names with the station. It was not immediately clear where the false names had originated.

The four pilots have returned to Korea, where the government has opened an investigation into the accident. The French News Service AFP reports that the Seoul government plans a three-week investigation into the incident, which resulted in three fatal injuries. The transport minister there has also ordered an increase in safety measures for all South Korean airlines, as well as additional training for pilots and crews.

In a statement, vice transportation minister Yeo Hyung-Koo said "South Korean airlines are required to strengthen safety measures in all areas, from flight operation, maintenance and their operation manuals to facilities."

FMI: http://english.mltm.go.kr/intro.do