Been following the #UA328 saga today. So glad everything’s okay and pax are safe. HOWEVER!!! I need to vent about how the TV news media is incredibly aviation illiterate.
It’s a long-running joke in #AVGeek circles that when TV news covers anything airplane-related, they’re wrong on the facts and terminology 99% of the time.
Examples of common TV News aviation-related inaccuracies include:
-Using the wrong B-roll with airplane types in question
-Confusing Airbus and Boeing in name and imagery
-Using the terms apron, taxiway, stand, and runway interchangeably
…and so much more…
-Using the wrong B-roll with airplane types in question
-Confusing Airbus and Boeing in name and imagery
-Using the terms apron, taxiway, stand, and runway interchangeably
…and so much more…
Innocent mistakes and on-air slip-ups can be laughed off. But the stuff I’ve been seeing about #UA328 has driven me batty today. Here's a few examples...
Example #1a: From @KPIXtv “New video out of Broomfield, Colorado where a jumbo jet started falling apart mid-air and somehow (pregnant pause) managed not to crash…”
No! No! No!
sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/live/cbsn-bay-…
No! No! No!
sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/live/cbsn-bay-…
-The more precise term is ‘wide body’.
-The plane didn’t fall apart. The aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure.
-The plane didn’t fall apart. The aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure.
-If #UA328 managed to fall apart on its own and the pilots barely managed not to crash, 777’s worldwide would be immediately grounded, and the pilots would’ve been given the highest award to celebrate their airmanship.
(Google “Aloha 243” for examples on how to cover a plane literally falling apart.)
A more accurate lede written for TV news should’ve been something like:
“Dramatic new video out of Broomfield, Colorado where a triple-seven suffered an uncontained engine failure after take-off..."
“Dramatic new video out of Broomfield, Colorado where a triple-seven suffered an uncontained engine failure after take-off..."
"...The engine cowling of United flight 328 landed on one resident’s front yard (VOSOT) while another unidentified engine part crashed through the roof of another home nearby (VOSOT), narrowly missing the homeowner standing in the kitchen.”
Example #1b: “More incredibly, the stricken aircraft made a safe return to Denver International.”
NO! It’s not “incredible.” Pilots are professionals that are thoroughly trained to handle an uncontained engine failure. And the Boeing 777’s can fly safely on one engine.
NO! It’s not “incredible.” Pilots are professionals that are thoroughly trained to handle an uncontained engine failure. And the Boeing 777’s can fly safely on one engine.
Example #2: @CNN “’…heavy engine failure, need to return…’”
No! No! No!
The plane did not suffer heavy engine failure. Heavy is part of #UA328’s radio call sign.
cnn.com/videos/us/2021…
No! No! No!
The plane did not suffer heavy engine failure. Heavy is part of #UA328’s radio call sign.
cnn.com/videos/us/2021…
I’m not calling out these anchors to vilify them. Being an on-camera anchor is a hard job and I appreciate how hard they work. But when public safety is in jeopardy, words & accuracy matter. Overly sensationalizing an airplane incident does a disservice to viewers on many fronts.
In conclusion, I'm calling on all TV news producers to stop writing scripts about airplane incidents that inject sensationalism at the expense of accuracy. Please read up on airplanes/airlines/airports before writing scripts. That’s all I ask.
Vent over. Thanks for listening.
Vent over. Thanks for listening.
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