There’s been a lot of press the past few days over the worldwide grounding of Boeing’s Dreamliner aircraft due to faulty batteries.
As reported in the Wall Street Journal article, All Boeing Dreamliners Are Grounded World-Wide, the grounding of the Dreamliner marks the first time in four decades that U.S. airlines were forced to ground an airliner.
U.S. airlines were joined by airlines from all over the world, who were also forced to ground the Dreamliner including Japan Airlines, JAL, Chile’s Lan Airlines,Polish airline LOT, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways.
The article goes on to explain the incident that triggered the global grounding of the the Dreamliner:
The FAA’s emergency order came after an All Nipon Airways 787 in Japan was forced to make an emergency landing and evacuation. In-flight alarms indicated overheating on the jet’s main battery that caused a burning smell in the cabin, but apparently no smoke. The plane’s computers warned of a battery fault prior to takeoff, according to a person familiar with the details, but the warning was displayed in part of the cockpit’s data system that pilots don’t routinely scan just before departure.
The emergency landing in Japan was the latest in a string of incidents involving lithium ion batteries in the what has become the world’s most revolutionary airliner.
The Dreamliner first went into commercial service in November 2011. Other concerns about the aircraft’s safety have been expressed following reports of leaking fuel, a cracked windshield and brake problems.
It doesn’t really matter when the flights resume, airlines all over the world have already lost millions of dollars in lost revenue as a result of the grounding.
Boeing faces a monumental challenge in explaining to its current and future customers that its Dreamliner is still safe to fly.
From this one incident alone, it looks like international attorneys will be busy for years sorting out who’s to blame.
But there have been many other recent international incidents involvong the Dreamliner:
- December 9: Qatar Airways delivery flight exhibits power panel issues and is grounded for repair
- January 7: JAL flight has electrical fire in Boston
- January 9: ANA cancels domestic flight due to brake problems before takeoff
- January 11: ANA cancels domestic flight after plane’s window cracks.
- January 15: ANA flight makes emergency landing in southern Japan after battery alarm and smoke
For international attorneys, this is indeed a Dreamliner with all the legal work it promises to generate.
What do you think?