Boeing suffers huge blow by U.S. regulators

PanARMENIAN.Net - Boeing suffered another huge blow on Wednesday, Jan 16, as U.S. regulators ordered airlines to stop flying 787 Dreamliners until a fire risk linked to the plane's lithium batteries has been resolved, AFP reports.

Japan's two biggest airlines had already taken almost half the global fleet out of service, but the announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) means 30 of the world's 50 Dreamliners have now been grounded.

"As a result of an in-flight, Boeing 787 battery incident earlier today in Japan, the FAA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations," the FAA said in a statement.

"Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration that the batteries are safe," it said.

United Airlines, the world's biggest airline, is currently the only U.S. airline operating the 787, with six planes in service.

"United will immediately comply with the Airworthiness Directive and will work closely with the FAA and Boeing on the technical review as we work toward restoring 787 service," the airline said in a statement.

"We will begin reaccommodating customers on alternate aircraft," it added.

The FAA action was prompted by a battery incident during an All Nippon Airways flight that resulted in an emergency landing in Japan on Wednesday, following another incident last week on an ANA 787 on the ground in Boston.

"The root cause of these failures is currently under investigation," the FAA said. "These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment."

The FAA said it was also alerting the international aviation community so authorities in other countries could take similar action.