Heathrow Airport is temporarily shut down as emergency crew respond to a fire involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner owned by Ethiopian Airlines. by Desiree Everts DeNunzio July 12, 2013 10:59 AM PDT The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off on its initial flight in 2009. (Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET) London's Heathrow Airport was temporarily shut down Friday after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner owned by Ethiopian Airlines caught fire. No passengers were aboard the aircraft, which was parked far away from the terminals at the time of the incident, according to a tweet posted by airport staff. The incident marks yet another setback for Boeing's next-generation airliner. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the entire fleet of Dreamliners worldwide in January following several on-board fires. The fires were found to be caused by an issue with the aircraft's lithium-ion batteries. Dreamliner flights resumed in May after Boeing and its suppliers were able to prove that the batteries were safe. It's unknown whether the batteries are again to blame in today's incident involving the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft. Television footage showed the Dreamliner surrounded by foam after a fire crew responded to the emergency. Heathrow Airport tweeted that it has since resumed flights.
Heathrow Airport is temporarily shut down as emergency crew respond to a fire involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner owned by Ethiopian Airlines.
July 12, 2013 10:59 AM PDT
The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner takes off on its initial flight in 2009.
(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)
London's Heathrow Airport was temporarily shut down Friday after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner owned by Ethiopian Airlines caught fire.
No passengers were aboard the aircraft, which was parked far away from the terminals at the time of the incident, according to a tweet posted by airport staff.
The incident marks yet another setback for Boeing's next-generation airliner. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the entire fleet of Dreamliners worldwide in January following several on-board fires.
The fires were found to be caused by an issue with the aircraft's lithium-ion batteries. Dreamliner flights resumed in May after Boeing and its suppliers were able to prove that the batteries were safe.
It's unknown whether the batteries are again to blame in today's incident involving the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft. Television footage showed the Dreamliner surrounded by foam after a fire crew responded to the emergency.
Heathrow Airport tweeted that it has since resumed flights.
