KTVU apologizes for racist SF plane crash gaffe

KTVU Channel 2 is apologizing for an on-air gaffe that the station — or viewers – won’t soon forget.

During the noon newscast Friday, co-anchor Tori Campbell, announced that “KTVU has just learned the names of the four pilots who were on board” Asiana flight 214 when it crashed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday.

She then read from a teleprompter while a TV graphic displayed four fake names that clearly were someone’s idea of a joke.

The first name — “Captain Sum Ting Wong” — should have been a give-away that something really was wrong. But Campbell kept reading… “Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk, Bang Ding Ow.”

Yikes.

After a break, Campbell made an on-air correction, clarifying that the names were clearly wrong — but that they had confirmed them earlier with the National Transportation Safety Board.

KTVU news director Lee Rosenthal did not immediately turn our calls seeking comment.

http://blog.sfgate.com/matierandross/2013/07/12/1937/

Yup, I laughed out loud and she hesitated
over how to pronounce Fuk. LOL!

The NTSB confirmed the names, but they originated with the station. Still doesn't negate the stupidity of the on-air "talent" that read them off.

http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2013/130712.html

Followed up with:

http://blog.sfgate.com/matierandross/2013/07/12/1937/

Update: The National Transportation Safety Board late Friday issued its own apology for “inaccurate and offensive names that were mistakenly confirmed” to KTVU Channel 2 as those of the pilots of Asiana flight 214, which crashed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday.

The statement said that an NTSB summer intern, in response to the station’s inquiry, “acted outside the scope of his authority when he erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew on the aircraft.”

However, in a subsequent phone interview with the SFGate’s Jeff Elder, NTSB spokeswoman Kelly Nantel made clear that the names “originated at the media outlet” and that the intern — unaware of the offensive names — was “acting in good faith and trying to be helpful” by confirming names he didn’t know.

“The NTSB does not release or confirm the names of crew members or people involved in transportation accidents to the media,” Nantel said.

Quote: EvenBob

Yup, I laughed out loud and she hesitated
over how to pronounce Fuk. LOL!

Yoo tu fu nee LOL

The interns name was Dum Gai. lol

Quote: EdgeLooker

The interns name was Dum Gai. lol

At least it sounds like a summer intern screwed up, so then maybe his whole future career path may not be totally derailed, ala Paula Deen. If I was the news anchor though, I still would worry. I watched the youtube earlier today and cringed.

I don't see why they have to label it "racist." It might be a sick to joke about a tragedy, but why do we need to call everything racist?

the teenager in me is coming out, I got a big laugh out of this!

Anyone else feel their apology tried to deflect blame to the NTSB instead of their OWN LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM ? The postings I saw made it clear that someone at the station made up those names as a joke. Hey, maybe they can blame an imaginary intern, except this time one at the station, too.

And besides being in poor taste, it seems like labeling this as racist might be taking it a step too far.

Straight from the script of Anchorman! See below if you haven't seen it. It's hilarious!

youtube video

ZCore13