Boeing's second flight test 787 is set to make its second flight, a return trip to Everett, for a thorough cleaning of its fuel tank following the discovery of foreign object debris (FOD).
The FOD was found trapped in the fuel filter following the aircraft's 22 December first flight to Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington.
Boeing confirms that "crews discovered very small amounts of debris" inside the aircraft's fuel tank during a planned non-operating period following first flight.
Programme sources say a piece of cheese cloth left in one of the aircraft's fuel tanks is said to be responsible for the return to Everett, where the facilities to accomplish the cleaning are located.
When crews went into the fuel tank to remove the cheese cloth, additional small objects were found in the tank as well, sources add.
Boeing declines to specify what type of FOD was found, saying only that there were "particulates" found in the tank.
While the FOD issue was being addressed at Boeing Field, site of the company's flight test centre, ZA002 remained on test status, concurrently completing ground hours toward the certification campaign.
The company did not specify how long the cleaning process would take, saying only that it "is expected to be completed quickly".
