FAA orders domestic airlines cease operating 787

The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday ordered domestic airlines temporarily halt the use of Boeing 787 aircraft because of “a potential battery fire risk.”

The federal agency issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) ordering the stop. The AD will remain in place until “operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft … demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe,” the agency said in a statement.

United Airlines is the only domestic carrier that operates the 787. The Chicago-based airline operates six of the aircraft.

“The FAA will work with the manufacturer and carriers to develop a corrective action plan to allow the U.S. 787 fleet to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible,” the FAA said in its statement.

The 787 has caused headache after headache for Boeing. A number of the aircraft have experienced problems, including a cracked cockpit window and a fuel leak in addition to the battery problems.

LOT Polish Airlines inaugurates new 787 Dreamliner nonstop service from Chicago to Warsaw today and makes aviation history as the first airline with scheduled Dreamliner service from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. (PRNewsFoto/LOT Polish Airlines)