Half 747 Dreamliners grounded
Safety concerns.
By New Statesman Published 16 January 2013
The Japanese airline companies All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have grounded their Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft citing electrical fire, fuel leaks and battery problems.
ANA has decided to suspend its 17 Dreamliner planes after its Yamaguchi-Haneda plane no. 692 was forced to land in less than an hour after take-off in eastern Japan yesterday. Meanwhile, JAL is also considering suspending its 787 flights due to safety concerns.
The body of Dreamliner planes, which entered into service in September 2011, is made by lightweight composite materials.
The Japan Transport Safety Board, which already started its investigation, said it considers the latest problem with the Dreamliner, “a serious incident that could lead to an accident.”
The US Federal Aviation Administration is already investigating fire and battery issues on JAL’s Boston-Tokyo 787 Dreamliner that happened on January 7.
Global airline companies have placed more orders for 787 Dreamliners considering its modern technology and features. Boeing is yet to deliver more than 800 aircraft.
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