Potential problem with an oil filter on a United Airlines plane gives Boeing another Dreamliner headache
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner has landed safely after being diverted when pilots were made aware of a potential oil filter problem.
In the latest of a series of setbacks for the new model, United Airlines said a Dreamliner on its way to Tokyo from Denver was forced to land in Seattle as a precaution.
The planes were only recently returned to the skies after regulators grounded them worldwide due to overheating in lithium-ion batteries.
There was no initial indication that any problem with the plane on Tuesday was related to batteries.
"United flight 139 from Denver to Tokyo diverted to Seattle due to an indication of a problem with an oil filter," United said in a statement.
"The aircraft landed normally and without incident and we are working to re-accommodate customers."
Boeing said it was aware of the issue and was working with United and General Electric Co on the problem.
Regulators and investors are keenly following the progress of the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing's first predominantly carbon-fibre aircraft, which was more than three years late getting into service after a number of production setbacks.
Introduced by airlines in late 2011, the Dreamliner was grounded in January after batteries overheated on two Japanese jets in quick succession.
It resumed commercial service in May after Boeing installed a redesigned battery system on the 50 jets in service.
Two other planes are known to have suffered technical problems with engines since - but none of those were understood to be serious.
One Singapore-bound Dreamliner, operated by ANA, had to turn back in mid-flight because of a problem with the anti-icing system.
Thomson Airlines and British Airways are among UK operators buying the planes, attracted by the promise of lower fuel costs.
While Boeing has announced billions of dollars in deals at the Paris Air Show as well as the launch of a stretched version of its next-generation Dreamliner 787, it is still trailing behind Airbus in new plane orders.
So far, Boeing has racked up $29.2bn (£18.7bn) in firm orders or purchase agreements against $36bn £23bn) for the European aircraft manufacturer.
In the latest of a series of setbacks for the new model, United Airlines said a Dreamliner on its way to Tokyo from Denver was forced to land in Seattle as a precaution.
The planes were only recently returned to the skies after regulators grounded them worldwide due to overheating in lithium-ion batteries.
There was no initial indication that any problem with the plane on Tuesday was related to batteries.
"United flight 139 from Denver to Tokyo diverted to Seattle due to an indication of a problem with an oil filter," United said in a statement.
"The aircraft landed normally and without incident and we are working to re-accommodate customers."
Boeing said it was aware of the issue and was working with United and General Electric Co on the problem.
Regulators and investors are keenly following the progress of the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing's first predominantly carbon-fibre aircraft, which was more than three years late getting into service after a number of production setbacks.
Introduced by airlines in late 2011, the Dreamliner was grounded in January after batteries overheated on two Japanese jets in quick succession.
It resumed commercial service in May after Boeing installed a redesigned battery system on the 50 jets in service.
Two other planes are known to have suffered technical problems with engines since - but none of those were understood to be serious.
One Singapore-bound Dreamliner, operated by ANA, had to turn back in mid-flight because of a problem with the anti-icing system.
Thomson Airlines and British Airways are among UK operators buying the planes, attracted by the promise of lower fuel costs.
While Boeing has announced billions of dollars in deals at the Paris Air Show as well as the launch of a stretched version of its next-generation Dreamliner 787, it is still trailing behind Airbus in new plane orders.
So far, Boeing has racked up $29.2bn (£18.7bn) in firm orders or purchase agreements against $36bn £23bn) for the European aircraft manufacturer.
Source : SkyNews
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