A Boeing 787 Dreamliner sparked a fire during an engine test. Picture: Dan Himbrechts Source: The Australian
BOEING says it remains confident in the safety of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets despite federal regulators probing an incident where an engine issue sparked a fire in South Carolina, US.
The jet is one of Boeing's most critical products. The company delivered the first Dreamliner jets last year following several years of design and production delays.
Airlines set record orders for the jet, as its lightweight, high-tech design was expected to offer travellers more comfort, provide airlines significant fuel savings and open up new routes.
Boeing has confirmed that a 787 had an engine issue while undergoing preflight runway testing in North Charleston, South Carolina, yesterday. The Post and Courier newspaper of Charleston reported that debris from the aircraft fell on the runway at Charleston International Airport and sparked a fire in the nearby grass, which closed the airport for more than an hour.
Company spokesman Marc Birtel said the company could not disclose the nature of the engine issue due to rules surrounding the investigation.
"While the investigation is in its early stages, we are unaware of any operational issue that would present concerns about the continued safe operation of in-service 787s powered by GE engines,'' Boeing said.
"However, should the investigation determine a need to act, Boeing has the processes in place to take action and will do so appropriately.''
A representative for the National Transportation Safety Board was not immediately available to comment.
The pressure is on for companies to deliver a successful fuel-efficient plane. Boeing competitor Airbus on Friday announced another delay for its A350 aircraft, which is made with a significant amount of carbon composites and is considered a potential rival.
Boeing is headquartered in Chicago but has a campus in South Carolina where it produces some of the 787 jetliners.
Source: A day in the life of a wizard
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