Remember that nowadays it's not just the press. You also need to think about what others might post on social media. I don't know how much control you have over your club members but you should suggest that it is not a good idea to speculate.
Another canned message ready to go:
"Dear Club Members,
Today one of our aircraft was involved in a/an (fatal) incident at ____ at approximately __:__.
The club is cooperating with safety officials from NTSB and FAA and the investigation is ongoing. Details are still being gathered.
Please be aware that during an ongoing investigation, the club leadership will not be able to discuss all aspects of the accident immediately, nor will we speculate on the causes of the accident.
We recommend that club members be aware that speculation and guesswork can be misconstrued by the Press, fellow pilots, the families of the people on board, and our local community.
The point of contact for the club will be _____. If you have any questions or if you are contacted by the Press, please ask the Press to contact them. They will be responsible for all communication from the organization and are keeping the Board informed of the progress of the investigation.
We will provide further information and more details at an appropriate time.
Our hearts are with the families of the pilot(s and passengers) today, and for the near future, as we will cooperate fully with the FAA and NTSB investigators, as we hope and pray for a speedy recovery / mourn the loss of our fellow aviators.
Signed,
Big Cheese, President
Sad Flyers Assn."
It's not callous to have this stuff boilerplated and ready to go. People, including the leadership, will be in shock and may not be 100% on their game.
You should also know who is best at speaking to the Press long before it happens and have a short list of people you can fill in, in that line above. If that's the President, great. If the Pres isn't the best person to do it, they need someone they trust to delegate it to.
Another often overlooked aspect that can be adds if you KNOW you have a trauma professional in your organization, someone who knows how to counsel people who are dealing with trauma, is to add...
"We understand that events like this are often difficult for everyone emotionally. If you or anyone you feels the need to talk to someone about this incident, (Pastor, Minister, Psychologist, "Doc", whatever title) _______ has offered to be available, anytime, at no charge, at (xxx) xxx-xxxx. All calls will be confidential."
If you don't have anyone to fill that role, there are Critical Incident Stress Management courses available for "first responders" who are dealing with emotional responses. Highly recommended.
Those first responders who ran to help sometimes need to talk about it. Most law enforcement will have a staff member or contact with local Counselors or Clergy who fill this role for anyone who needs it if the club doesn't have someone. Make sure the contact person who's working with the Police or Sheriff remembers to ask them if they can pass along the contact information for them.
