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Asiana Flight 214: 4 pilots hospitalized; airline drops KTVU lawsuit plans
This aerial photo shows the wreckage of the Asiana Flight 214 airplane after it crashed at the San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Saturday, July 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
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A KTVU news anchor read the fake names of the four Asiana pilots last week.
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Zennie Abraham/Flickr
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The four pilots of the Asiana jet that crash-landed in San Francisco are being treated for psychological trauma and injuries caused by the accident, South Korean officials said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Asiana Airlines said Wednesday it no longer plans to sue KTVU, a San Francisco TV station, over the use of racially offensive names.
In South Korea, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry officials said the pilots have been hospitalized following medical checkups after returning home over the weekend.
Asiana Flight 214 crashed July 6 at San Francisco International Airport, killing three and injuring dozens.
RELATED: Airline to sue TV station over reading fake racially offensive names; NTSB intern fired
The pilots underwent questioning by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and South Korean investigators while in the United States.
South Korean officials plan to conduct a separate interview with them. The ministry officials said that could begin as early as Friday if the doctors allow it.
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The officials gave no further details and spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.
With regard to its lawsuit plans, Asiana Airlines said Wednesday that it no longer plans to sue KTVU over the use of racially offensive names.
The South Korean air carrier said that KTVU-TV has already apologized for using fake names for the four pilots.
Asiana said it wants to focus on supporting passengers and families of the dead and injured passengers.
Last week, an anchor for KTVU-TV read the fake names on air — apparently someone's idea of a prank to use fake Asian-style names that sounded out distress calls and curse words. The anchor apologized after a break. Video of the prank (below) went viral.
Asiana earlier said the report seriously damaged its reputation. It said Monday that it would sue the TV station to respond to the racially discriminatory report that disparaged Asians.
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