The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will ground all US-registered Boeing 787s until Boeing demonstrates the lithium-ion-polymer batteries on board are safe.
The agency intends to issue an emergency airworthiness directive to "address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations".
The directive comes after two incidents involving battery failures. A 787 operated by All Nippon Airways made an emergency landing on 15 January after a battery malfunctioned, reportedly spreading smoke into the cockpit and odours into the passenger cabin. On 7 January, a fire erupted in the battery compartment of a parked Japan Airlines 787 in Boston, and the battery exploded.
Boeing was not immediately available to comment on the FAA's directive.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
