Reports came out this morning that Asiana Airlines plans to sue KTVU-TV in San Francisco over the disgustingly racist names it posted in a report a few days ago. Almost everyone has heard of the story by now, where the real names of the pilots were replaced with racist English-soundalikes such as "Wi To Lo" and "Ho Lee Fuk."
Asiana asserts in the lawsuit that the racist names posted by KTVU "damaged the airline's reputation." KTVU has apologized profusely for the racist names, but you can't put toothpaste back in the tube. The names were unacceptable, and regardless of whether or not they were falsely "confirmed" by the NTSB, whoever wrote them and posted them on air needs to be fired so hard their ass turns into glass.
But that's what damaged your reputation? Seriously? Let's have some perspective here.
Asiana Airlines executives, it seems that the actions of your flight crew...
...at least partially (as far as we know) resulted in the crash of a Boeing 777...
...and killed at least 3 people...
...are you
positive that the racist names are what damaged your reputation, and not the fatal crash of one of your planes?
Come on now. KTVU's actions were unacceptable and those responsible for the racist names need to be held responsible, but Asiana Airlines, your pilots were seemingly at least partially responsible for a plane crash resulted in 3 deaths and dozens more serious, life-altering injuries. Going on record to say that a news report is what really damaged your reputation is a slap in the face to the victims of flight 214.
The smoldering 777 fuselage laying next to Runway 28L did more damage to your reputation than anyone else ever could.
Perspective.
12:04 PM PT: I stand by my "the actions of the flight crew seem to be partially to blame, as far as we know" statements. The NTSB says the plane seems to have been functioning fine, and their investigation is focused on why the pilots weren't paying attention to their airspeed.
Either way, the crash did more damage to their reputation than any news report ever could, even if it is racist trash aired on television.