Smoke Aboard Boeing Dreamliner Test Flight Forces Emergency Landing, Could Delay Production (Again)

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Dave Sizer via Wikimedia

In yet another setback for Boeing’s much anticipated – and anticipated, and anticipated – 787 Dreamliner, a test flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Texas last night after smoke began clouding the cabin. Boeing is evaluating flight data and trying to pinpoint the origin of the smoke aboard its next-gen jetliner, which is now almost three years behind schedule.

The smoke originated in the tail of the plane at the rear of the passenger cabin. The plane was carrying a range of flight test gear, including equipment for monitoring the system that delivers nitrogen gas to the fuel tanks to prevent vapors from igniting. That part of the test flight seems to have gone well enough, but something went awry somewhere along the way, forcing the flight from Yuma, Ariz., to make an emergency stop in Laredo, Texas.

Related Articles

	The Dreamliner Unveiled
	787 Dreamliner's First Flight Delayed Yet Again
	Boeing Delays Dreamliner Again

Tags

Technology, Clay Dillow, aviation, boeing, boeing 787 dreamliner, Dreamliner, emergency landing, test flights

The 787 Dreamliner is Boeing’s next-generation jet airliner constructed of composite materials to make it lighter and more fuel efficient. But a slew of setbacks, including late engine deliveries from Rolls Royce and various design problems stemming from the fact that the plane’s hardware is being sourced from variety of suppliers around the world have led to one production delay after another.

Boeing’s most recent projections for delivery of finished Dreamliners put the planes in the hands of Japan’s All Nippon Airways in the first quarter of next year, but it’s now unclear if Boeing will be able to keep that timetable.

[USA Today, Reuters]