Crisis deepens

Dreamliners grounded worldwide on safety fears.

TOKYO: Aviation regulators grounded most of the world’s 787 Dreamliner fleet until a fire risk linked to the plane’s batteries is fixed, deepening a crisis for its US manufacturer Boeing.

Regulators in Japan, India and Chile followed the lead of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in ordering an indefinite halt to all operations, after a Japanese Dreamliner on Wednesday was forced into an emergency landing.

The FAA, which sets the benchmark for aviation standards, highlighted “a potential battery fire risk in the 787” after a suspected leak emerged as the focus of inquiries into the aborted All Nippon Airways flight.

Analysts said the ANA incident, following a series of safety scares involving the Dreamliner, needed careful crisis management from Boeing, which is staking its future on the next-generation plane.

The aircraft relies on batterypowered electronics rather than the hydraulics used in older planes. Boeing says its use of lightweight composite materials is a breakthrough for airlines anxious to cut fuel costs.

Chief executive Jim McNerney said the company “deeply regrets” the impact of recent events on airlines and passengers, and vowed to take “every necessary step” in concert with the FAA to resolve the problems.

However, he stressed: “We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity.”

As a result of the mishap on the domestic ANA flight, 39 out of the 50 Dreamliners in operation around the world have now been grounded. — AFP