expressindia.indianexpress.com
expressindia web
HomeBlogsCricketAstrology ShoppingTendersClassifieds Reader Comments
Font Size
Expressindia » Story

Boeing suspends 787 Dreamliner deliveries

PTI

Posted: Jan 19, 2013 at 0855 hrs IST
All 50 787s in service around the world were grounded on orders from multiple aviation authorities to probe the cause of two incidents, including a fire, linked to its batteries.  (Reuters)

Washington The American aerospace giant Boeing halted deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner but said it would continue to build the aircraft while safety experts examine its battery and electrical systems.

The announcement made yesterday capped a week in which all 50 787s in service around the world were grounded on orders from multiple aviation authorities to investigate the cause of two incidents, including a fire, linked to its batteries.

"We will not deliver 787s until the FAA approves a means of compliance with their recent Airworthiness Directive concerning batteries and the approved approach has been implemented," a Boeing spokesman said.

"Production of 787s continues," he said.

Dreamliners had been flying in Chile, Ethiopia, India, Japan, Poland, Qatar and the United States until their flights were stopped after a global alert issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Boeing's chairman and chief executive Jim McNerney in a statement to employees defended his company and the aircraft against "the negative news attention over the past several days."

"As everyone inside the company knows, nothing is more important to us than the safety of the passengers, pilots and crew members who fly aboard Boeing commercial and military aircraft," he said.

"We have high confidence in the safety of the 787 and stand squarely behind its integrity as the newest addition to our product family."

His comments came as US and Japanese experts began examining an All Nippon Airways 787 forced to make an emergency landing at Takamatsu in southwest Japan on Wednesday because of a smoke alert apparently linked to a lithium-ion battery, the plane's main electrical power unit.

"We removed the battery yesterday and are today inspecting the plane and its components, alongside the US officials," said Japan Transport Safety Board spokesman Mamoru Takahashi.

A picture released by the JTSB showed scorch marks on the blue casing of the battery. Much of what looked like wiring around the eight cells of the battery – the plane's main electrical power unit – was disfigured.

It was the second incident involving the battery, and one of several problems since the beginning of the year, including a taxiing 787 sprouting a fuel leak in Boston.

The problems have cast a cloud over the aircraft heavily dependent on pioneering electrical systems and lightweight composite materials that is meant to be Boeing's future.

Print
 
Post Comments
Name* Email ID*
Subject* Country*
Message*
Characters remaining
 
TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
I agree to the terms of use.

Latest News

Business

Showbiz

Sports

Trouble mounts for Sreesanth as Mumbai cops gather more evidence

Kings XI Punjab end IPL 2013 campaign with a win

5 differently abled orphan girls beaten, raped in Jaipur residential school

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah inducts 28 ministers, keeps tainted away

Infiltration bid foiled near LOC, two army men die in ambush

1993 serial blasts case: Sanjay Dutt surrenders before TADA court

No arrest for posts on social sites without permission: Supreme Court

More
© The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved
Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Express Group | Site Map