The standard of journalism in this country ain't that high. Particulary Television journalism. And particulary anything to do with the mystical subject of aviation. Too much detail to worry about.
If you want the least accurate reporting on any event go straight to commercial television news.
Obviously on day one of journo training you are taught the basic rules. If you stick a microphone and a camera in front of any member of the public involved in an incident you will find they will say whatever they think you want them to say. They just want to be involved, get their head on TV and feel that somehow their 10 minutes of fame, in their life, has finally arrived.
Then you learn cliches. Doomed. Plunged. Thought I Was Going To Die. End Of An Era. Air Pocket. Witness's Saw An Explosion. etc etc.
Then you learn how to put it together. Don't worry about accuracy. If there are details getting in the way of your story just make up anything that seems feasable to your thoughts at the time. After all you are the expert journo and the public are a bunch of d*ckheads who will believe anything.
Having learnt all that you make sure you are female, big boobs, blonde or dyed blonde if possible and have a scratchy voice that becomes strident as you yell at the microphone at the top of your voice, despite the fact that your lapel microphone is only cms away from your mouth.
Any Australian TV network will jump at the chance of employing you once you've got that together.