FAA to review Boeing ‘Dreamliner’ safety after recent fuel leak, fire

Federal regulators will review Boeing’s 787 “Dreamliner” after a handful of incidents this week sparked safety concerns about the company’s most technologically advanced aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement on Friday that it would conduct “a comprehensive review of Boeing 787 critical systems, including the design, manufacture and assembly.”

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will hold a press conference at 9:30 a.m. Eastern to discuss the review.

Earlier this week, an electrical fire broke out in the battery of one aircraft, another suffered a fuel leak and the computers on a third plane wrongly indicated there was a problem with the brakes. No one was injured in any of the incidents.

On Friday, cracks appeared on the cockpit windshield of a plane leaving Tokyo. The plane landed safely.

Boeing maintains that the aircraft is “safe to fly,” and that these incidents are minor and typical in the early stages of production.

“I’m 100 percent convinced that the aircraft is safe to fly,” Boeing vice president Mike Sinnett told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday. “The real issues are the economic impact to customers, and all of our reputations, so we work very hard to resolve those issues.”

The Dreamliner, which Boeing describes as “super-efficient,” is constructed of light carbon composite materials and uses rechargeable lithium ion batteries to promote fuel savings for airlines.

The plane also has a svelte interior, and airlines have been promoting the plane as a new kind of flying experience.

— Updated at 8:45 a.m.