Problems with a Boeing Co. 787 forced the temporary closure of the Charleston airport yesterday.
Debris fell from the Dreamliner’s engine onto the runway and into grass where it sparked a fire, reports the Post and Courier. As a result of the fire, the airport closed for about an hour, prompting an investigation from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The 787 involved in the incident was equipped with General Electric engines. Boeing told the Wall Street Journal that it’s “unaware” of an issue with the GE engines that would affect 787s already in-service.
Japan Airlines is the only airline that currently operates Boeing Dreamliners powered by GE’s GEnx engines.
Last week, 787 launch customer All Nippon Airways said it temporarily grounded five 787s due to issues with their Dreamliners’ Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. On Wednesday, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney described the problem with Rolls’ engines as “minor” and said it wouldn’t affect the number of 787s delivered by Boeing this year.
Boeing has yet to deliver a 787 assembled at its North Charleston, S.C., site. Several 787s are parked in North Charleston awaiting delivery to Air India. The airline and the government of India have held off on delivery while they decide on how much compensation they’ll seek from Boeing over 787 delivery delays. Boeing was nearly four years late in handing over the Dreamliner.
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