Report: Misplaced tool sparked 787 fire
Published 3:52 pm Monday, November 22, 2010
A French newspaper has pinpointed the source of electrical fire that forced a 787 test plane to make an emergency landing: a tool that was left behind.
La Tribune newspaper reported today that a tool was left behind in the 787 electronics bay, sparking a fire. The publication said that Boeing’s engineers are trying to find a way to prevent such an incident from happening again. Boeing is not commenting on the report.
Boeing’s second 787 had to make an emergency landing Nov. 9, in Laredo, Texas. Boeing has said the fire lasted only briefly but the company has not announced the cause of the fire.
The company’s six 787 test planes have remained on the ground since the incident, other than to fly a few Dreamliners back to the Puget Sound region. Boeing has not said how this latest problem will affect its delivery schedule.
