'Sum Ting Wong’: Intern blamed for leaking fake names of Asiana pilots

[goofyintoronto]

Anyone else hear about this?

Sum Ting Wong: Intern blamed for leaking fake names of pilots aboard plane that crashed in San Francisco

A summer intern acting outside the scope of his authority is responsible for erroneously confirming the names of the pilots aboard the Asiana Airlines flight that crashed Saturday to an Oakland news station, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

During a live newscast Friday, KTVU Channel 2 reported the names of the flight crew as: Sum Ting Wong, Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee ***, and Bang Ding Ow.

Asiana Flight 214 collided with a rocky seawall at San Francisco Airport, just short of its intended runway last Saturday. Three people were killed and dozens of others injured. Investigators have said the plane came in too low and slow.

A representative for the transportation agency would not say whether the intern was fired for blunder. Weve taken the appropriate action, Kelly Nantel told the National Post.

The agencys policy is to never release or confirm the names of crew members or people involved in transportation accidents to media, Ms. Nantel said.

The station reacted by quickly issuing an apology later on during the newscast as well as on its website and social media accounts, but that didnt prevent major media outlets including The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and CNN from scooping up the story.

We made several mistakes when we received this information. First, we never read the names out loud, phonetically sounding them out, read the statement.

Im sure the script goes thru several people before the news anchor reads it off the screen. How is it that not one person caught this mistake?? Even the person who obtained the names should have known something wasnt right. I just dont get it.

That poor anchor, she maintained composure through out the whole thing.

EDIT: forgot to add that Asiana is in fact suing the SF TV station. Here is another article stating just that: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/14/asiana-tv-station-fake-pilot-names/2515541/

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[luvgoing2disney]

I shared the story with my DW and she heard that Asiana is suing the station I guess it's easier to do that and deflct the focus from the crash.

 

[Albort]

whoever put this in motion should be ashamed of him/herself...

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I heard about it...I have no idea how it made it on the air. Can no one read???

 

[minkydog]

Anyone else hear about this?



Im sure the script goes thru several people before the news anchor reads it off the screen. How is it that not one person caught this mistake?? Even the person who obtained the names should have known something wasnt right. I just dont get it.

That poor anchor, she maintained composure through out the whole thing.

Somebody took the time to make a nice graphic for the broadcast, even. It's hard to believe that NOBODY caught this. I can just imagine how the CEO reacted when he heard it. IMO, the station SHOULD be sued. It was a terribly insensitive thing at a very sensitive time. I don't' know how a television station operates, but I'm pretty sure that at least 2 people had to have seen that script before it was read. I realize that the person who submitted this probably thought it was a hilarious joke, but it's not--it's a racist joke. I'm pretty sure that if someone listed the pilots with obviously made up Jewish names or African-American names or Polish names the entire U.S. would be on them like white on rice!

 

[Jennasis]

I don't buy the "summer intern" story for a second. If there was, the NTSB would be stringing that kid up publicly for it.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Sorry guys, I forgot to post the most important part! Asiana is in fact suing the TV network/station!! Rightfully so!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/14/asiana-tv-station-fake-pilot-names/2515541/

I don't buy the "summer intern" story for a second. If there was, the NTSB would be stringing that kid up publicly for it.

I dont buy that either. Ridiculous. The whole thing is disgusting. They should sue every penny out of that station, I find it shocking that not one person caught the error. Some people sure have a sick sense of humor.

 

[superme80]

That has got to be the stupidest law suit I have ever heard of! Yes it was a prank gone bad, but they are trying to deflect from the fact that THEIR pilots crashed the plane. Sorry I have no sympathy for the airline. The person who did the prank should be fired. It was not appropriate. But a lawsuit???? Oh please!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I heard about it...I have no idea how it made it on the air. Can no one read???

LOL! Apparently not? They proved that they cant.

 

[minkydog]

That has got to be the stupidest law suit I have ever heard of! Yes it was a prank gone bad, but they are trying to deflect from the fact that THEIR pilots crashed the plane. Sorry I have no sympathy for the airline. The person who did the prank should be fired. It was not appropriate. But a lawsuit???? Oh please!

I don't' see this as being any different from Paula Deen using a racial slur and losing her endorsements. It is NOT okay for a TV station to read an "Asian joke" that should have been obvious to a 5th grader.

 

[Jennasis]

I also think the on air apology should have been made by the news director or the producer who made the call to the NTSB.

 

[superme80]

I don't' see this as being any different from Paula Deen using a racial slur and losing her endorsements. It is NOT okay for a TV station to read an "Asian joke" that should have been obvious to a 5th grader.

I agree. But I don't thinks suing is the answer. They apologized and I am hoping whoever did it was fired. The airline is just trying to distance themselves from the real tragedy.

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm not endorsing what the Intern did, but part of me is really disappointed the kid missed the opportunity to use Long Duck Dong:

...I also can't believe the TV station fell for it!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I agree with you. No difference. Its sick that they actually thought this was funny.

I don't' see this as being any different from Paula Deen using a racial slur and losing her endorsements. It is NOT okay for a TV station to read an "Asian joke" that should have been obvious to a 5th grader.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I dont think thats it. Put yourself in their shoes, someone makes a racist remark on live tv about the pilots in your airline, you wouldnt sue? Who wouldnt??

I agree. But I don't thinks suing is the answer. They apologized and I am hoping whoever did it was fired. The airline is just trying to distance themselves from the real tragedy.

LOL. I love that character in the movie. Too funny.

I'm not endorsing what the Intern did, but part of me is really disappointed the kid missed the opportunity to use Long Duck Dong:

...I also can't believe the TV station fell for it!

 

[superme80]

I dont think thats it. Put yourself in their shoes, someone makes a racist remark on live tv about the pilots in your airline, you wouldnt sue? Who wouldnt??

Actually I would not sue. They are claiming KTVU ruined their reputation. No the pilots crashing the plane ruined their reputation. People need to stop thinking that a lawsuits is supposed to the place of an apology. KTVU was rude, insensitive, and people need to be fired. I am all for firing whoever did this. But expecting KTVU to give them money for being jerks? Nope not buying it!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Actually I would not sue. They are claiming KTVU ruined their reputation. No the pilots crashing the plane ruined their reputation. People need to stop thinking that a lawsuits is supposed to the place of an apology. KTVU was rude, insensitive, and people need to be fired. I am all for firing whoever did this. But expecting KTVU to give them money for being jerks? Nope not buying it!

I see your point. I'd be happy with just the firing as well. But im not against them suing the TV station either. A tragedy has occurred, yet these guys are cracking racist jokes. Sure it was the pilots fault. But nonetheless, that was very insensitive.

 

[superme80]

I see your point. I'd be happy with just the firing as well. But im not against them suing the TV station either. A tragedy has occurred, yet these guys are cracking racist jokes. Sure it was the pilots fault. But nonetheless, that was very insensitive.

I completely agree. Now if KTVU would like to fly some reps from the airline over on KTVU's dime and have the entire company sit through some sensitivity training I would fully support and encourage that. I think that would be a nice gesture.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I live in the SF Bay Area and sometimes watch KNTV's newscasts. Did not see it the night they aired the fake names. We did, however, see the smoke from the crash as we were taking the train to SF that day. Scary! This is a huge news market and most stations around here do really good reporting, KNTV included. Something definitely went terribly wrong in that particular newscast. Someone supposedly did fact checking. Someone wrote the story. Someone typed it into the prompter. The newscaster pre-read the material to make sure she could pronounce the names correctly. Then she read it on the air. I think it was probably one malicious person and several others simply not paying enough attention. KNTV has apologized. I think it reflected badly on the station, but not on the airline. They should accept the apology and move on. They have enough to deal with. The station has a serious internal investigation to take care of.

 

[Allison]

Why aren't people outraged with the NTSB?