After a second incident involving battery failure, Wednesday the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Boeing 787, the Dreamliner, until fears about its batteries sparking a fire are resolved.
In addition, Europe, Japan and India joined the United States in grounding the jet, according to Reuters.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-boeing-dreamliner-idUSBRE90F1N820130117
United Airlines is currently the only U.S. airline operating the 787, with six airplanes in service.
The FAA issued a press release saying that it had issued “an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations. Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration that the batteries are safe.”
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=14233
The FAA put out the order after a jet had to make an emergency landing earlier Wednesday in Japan, similar to an incident with a 787 on the ground in Boston on Jan. 7. There was an issue with the jet’s lithium ion batteries in both instances.
“The battery failures resulted in release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage, and smoke on two Model 787 airplanes,” the FAA said. “The root cause of these failures is currently under investigation. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment.”
A few days after the Boston incident, the FAA announced that it would conduct a comprehensive review of the Boeing 787 critical systems, including the design, manufacture and assembly.
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=14213
Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney issued a statement about the FAA’s directive.
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2563
“The safety of passengers and crew members who fly aboard Boeing airplanes is our highest priority,” he said. “Boeing is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible. The company is working around the clock with its customers and the various regulatory and investigative authorities. We will make available the entire resources of The Boeing Company to assist.”
He continued, “We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity. We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the traveling public of the 787’s safety and to return the airplanes to service. Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers.”