All Boeing 787 Dreamliners grounded
January 17, 2013  08:49
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US federal agency has asked its airlines to ground the Boeing 787, popularly known as Dreamliner, due to safety hazard. 

Such a directive to "temporarily cease operations" comes after the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) conducted an investigation of an in-flight Boeing 787 battery incident in Japan yesterday, which posed a question on a potential battery fire risk in the 787.

"Before further flight, operators of US-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe," the FAA said in a statement on Wednesday.

The United Airlines, which is currently the only American airlines operating the 787, with six airplanes in service, announced to immediately suspend the services of its Dreamliners.

Early this month United Airlines has introduced daily nonstop 787 Dreamliner service between Los Angeles and Tokyo. 

There was no immediate reaction from Air India, which is among the few international airlines in Asia to boast of the Dreamliners.

FAA said the in-flight Japanese battery incident followed an earlier 787 battery incident that occurred on the ground in Boston on January 7, 2013. The airworthiness directive (AD) is prompted by this second incident involving a lithium ion battery.
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