The news headline with its mention of "uncertified" made me think it was an amateur-built experimental or something. It turns out it was the right model of Airbus, but the wrong variant because it lacked the extra fire suppression etc. required for a long overwater flight.
ETOPS is a certification and there's a lot more to it than extra fire suppression equipment so the story headline is correct.
Basically the media is stupid when it comes to these sort of things. That of course is not news.
If the media is stupid about the things we know about, that makes me suspect everything else the media says and does.
Ergo, the media is stupid. Just stop there.
Greg, there is a difference between stupidity and ignorance. Media is ignorant. Perhaps media is arrogantly ignorant but stupidity is not proven.
The media is not stupid. They are making money. The audience however........
Well, I was just quoting the post above mine. But in the case of the media I think that is a difference without distinction. Or a distinction without a difference. However that phrase goes.
Bottom line is when reporting the news, it is their responsibility to become educated on the subject so they aren't ignorant anymore. IMO, ignorance in reporting, as with ignorance of the law, is no excuse.