Minutes after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of Boeing's 787, the only U.S.-based airline to operate the plane vowed to comply.
The so-called Dreamliner has endured a series of mechanical problems over the last few weeks. The latest incident took place Wednesday on an All Nippon Airlines flight in Japan. The problem involved the same lithium-ion batteries that caught fire last week in Boston on a Dreamliner operated by Japan Airlines.
Both airlines have grounded the airplane.
The FAA directive said:
As a result of an in-flight, Boeing 787 battery incident earlier today in Japan, the FAA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations. Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe.
Less than 30 minutes later, United Airlines, which now owns six Dreamliners, responded, saying:
United will immediately comply with the Airworthiness Directive and will work closely with the FAA and Boeing on the technical review as we work toward restoring 787 service. We will begin reaccommodating customers on alternate aircraft.
United's Dreamliners were flying between Houston, Chicago, Newark, Los Angeles and Tokyo.
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Follow Hugo Martin on Twitter at @hugomartin
