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| TOKYO — The two largest Japanese airlines said Wednesday that they would ground their fleets of Boeing 787 aircraft after one operated by All Nippon Airways made an emergency landing in western Japan, heightening concerns about the safety of the U.S. manufacturer’s latest plane. | TOKYO — The two largest Japanese airlines said Wednesday that they would ground their fleets of Boeing 787 aircraft after one operated by All Nippon Airways made an emergency landing in western Japan, heightening concerns about the safety of the U.S. manufacturer’s latest plane. |
| The 137 passengers and crew members aboard Flight NH692 from Yamaguchi Ube Airport, in western Japan, to Tokyo used emergency slides to leave the aircraft early Wednesday after battery trouble and an “unusual smell” in the cockpit prompted its pilots to land instead at Takamatsu airport, according to All Nippon, or A.N.A. The jet’s main battery in the front of the plane was later found to have become discolored and to be seeping electrolyte fluid, All Nippon said. | The 137 passengers and crew members aboard Flight NH692 from Yamaguchi Ube Airport, in western Japan, to Tokyo used emergency slides to leave the aircraft early Wednesday after battery trouble and an “unusual smell” in the cockpit prompted its pilots to land instead at Takamatsu airport, according to All Nippon, or A.N.A. The jet’s main battery in the front of the plane was later found to have become discolored and to be seeping electrolyte fluid, All Nippon said. |
| The public broadcaster, NHK, said smoke had entered the cockpit, although All Nippon could not confirm that report. One passenger was taken to a hospital with hip pain but was later discharged, All Nippon said. | The public broadcaster, NHK, said smoke had entered the cockpit, although All Nippon could not confirm that report. One passenger was taken to a hospital with hip pain but was later discharged, All Nippon said. |
| The emergency landing followed a string of problems in the past month with the Boeing 787, known as the Dreamliner, including a battery fire, fuel leaks and a cracked cockpit window. All Nippon said the problems Wednesday involved the same lithium-ion batteries that caught fire last week in Boston on a Dreamliner operated by Japan Airlines. | The emergency landing followed a string of problems in the past month with the Boeing 787, known as the Dreamliner, including a battery fire, fuel leaks and a cracked cockpit window. All Nippon said the problems Wednesday involved the same lithium-ion batteries that caught fire last week in Boston on a Dreamliner operated by Japan Airlines. |
| Ryosei Nomura, a spokesman for All Nippon, said Wednesday that the airline was temporarily grounding all 17 of its Dreamliners for inspections, leading to the cancellation of 38 domestic and international flights. Japan Airlines also said it would ground the five Dreamliners it was operating; two other aircraft were already undergoing safety checks. | Ryosei Nomura, a spokesman for All Nippon, said Wednesday that the airline was temporarily grounding all 17 of its Dreamliners for inspections, leading to the cancellation of 38 domestic and international flights. Japan Airlines also said it would ground the five Dreamliners it was operating; two other aircraft were already undergoing safety checks. |
| Akihiro Ota, the Japanese transportation minister, said that the emergency landing had raised concerns about the Dreamliner’s safety and that he would dispatch officials to investigate. “I see this as a serious incident which could have led to a serious accident,” Mr. Ota said in Tokyo. | Akihiro Ota, the Japanese transportation minister, said that the emergency landing had raised concerns about the Dreamliner’s safety and that he would dispatch officials to investigate. “I see this as a serious incident which could have led to a serious accident,” Mr. Ota said in Tokyo. |
| Osamu Shinobe, vice president of All Nippon, said at a news conference at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, “I apologize for the grave concern and trouble we have caused our passengers, their families and others.” He said the airline was still investigating. | Osamu Shinobe, vice president of All Nippon, said at a news conference at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, “I apologize for the grave concern and trouble we have caused our passengers, their families and others.” He said the airline was still investigating. |
| All Nippon and Japan Airlines said the planes would be back in the air after safety checks, though it was unclear how soon that would be. All Nippon said it would keep its Dreamliner fleet grounded Thursday, canceling 35 domestic flights and using other types of aircraft for its international routes. There were, for now, no plans to review their use of the plane, the airlines said. | All Nippon and Japan Airlines said the planes would be back in the air after safety checks, though it was unclear how soon that would be. All Nippon said it would keep its Dreamliner fleet grounded Thursday, canceling 35 domestic flights and using other types of aircraft for its international routes. There were, for now, no plans to review their use of the plane, the airlines said. |
| The U.S. authorities have also voiced concern about problems the Dreamliner has faced but endorsed it as a safe airplane. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a comprehensive review of the Dreamliner’s manufacturing and design, with a focus on the plane’s electrical systems. But during a news conference last Thursday, the transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, made no mention of grounding Dreamliners. | The U.S. authorities have also voiced concern about problems the Dreamliner has faced but endorsed it as a safe airplane. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a comprehensive review of the Dreamliner’s manufacturing and design, with a focus on the plane’s electrical systems. But during a news conference last Thursday, the transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, made no mention of grounding Dreamliners. |
| Still, the review is unusual, just 15 months after the plane entered service following a lengthy certification process by the F.A.A. It comes amid a formal investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board of what caused a battery fire on a Japan Airlines plane that flew to Boston from Tokyo last week. | Still, the review is unusual, just 15 months after the plane entered service following a lengthy certification process by the F.A.A. It comes amid a formal investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board of what caused a battery fire on a Japan Airlines plane that flew to Boston from Tokyo last week. |
| The safety board said it was “currently in the process of gathering information about the B-787 emergency landing in Japan earlier today.” | The safety board said it was “currently in the process of gathering information about the B-787 emergency landing in Japan earlier today.” |
| Eight airlines now fly the Dreamliner. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines in Japan own 24 of the 50 delivered by Boeing since November 2011. The other operators are Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, LAN Airlines of Chile, LOT of Poland, Qatar Airways and United Airlines of the United States. | Eight airlines now fly the Dreamliner. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines in Japan own 24 of the 50 delivered by Boeing since November 2011. The other operators are Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, LAN Airlines of Chile, LOT of Poland, Qatar Airways and United Airlines of the United States. |
| Boeing has sought to ease concerns about the plane’s design and reliability, and has said it is no more trouble-prone than other new commercial airplane programs. Boeing executives declined to comment Wednesday on the Japanese groundings. | Boeing has sought to ease concerns about the plane’s design and reliability, and has said it is no more trouble-prone than other new commercial airplane programs. Boeing executives declined to comment Wednesday on the Japanese groundings. |
| Updesh Kapur, a spokesman for Qatar Airways, reiterated Wednesday the airline’s view that the Dreamliner was safe but declined to comment on the decisions by the Japanese carriers. Qatar Airways operates three Dreamliners and has orders and purchase options for 57 more. | Updesh Kapur, a spokesman for Qatar Airways, reiterated Wednesday the airline’s view that the Dreamliner was safe but declined to comment on the decisions by the Japanese carriers. Qatar Airways operates three Dreamliners and has orders and purchase options for 57 more. |
| Last week, Akbar Al Baker, the Qatar Airways chief executive, played down the recent string of Dreamliner incidents as “teething issues with various components” and expressed confidence that Boeing would resolve any problems. He added that his airline was taking “every precaution” to ensure its fleet was safe to fly. | Last week, Akbar Al Baker, the Qatar Airways chief executive, played down the recent string of Dreamliner incidents as “teething issues with various components” and expressed confidence that Boeing would resolve any problems. He added that his airline was taking “every precaution” to ensure its fleet was safe to fly. |
| Ethiopian Airways, when asked about the latest incidents with the Dreamliner, referred to a news release the carrier issued earlier this week. “The Dreamliner is a highly capable and safe aircraft,” Tewolde Gebremariam, chief executive of the airline, said in the statement, dated Monday. “However, like any new technology aircraft entering into service, it is normal to encounter some minor bugs here and there,” he added. | Ethiopian Airways, when asked about the latest incidents with the Dreamliner, referred to a news release the carrier issued earlier this week. “The Dreamliner is a highly capable and safe aircraft,” Tewolde Gebremariam, chief executive of the airline, said in the statement, dated Monday. “However, like any new technology aircraft entering into service, it is normal to encounter some minor bugs here and there,” he added. |
| LOT, which began Dreamliner service last month between Warsaw and Prague, inaugurated trans-Atlantic flights with the plane Wednesday, with a flight to Chicago that took off around 5 p.m. local time from Warsaw. | |
| The head of India’s airline regulator said he was awaiting a report from Air India, the state-run carrier, and Boeing before making any decision. “We’re not looking at grounding the aircraft,” said Arun Mishra, director general of civil aviation, noting that the regulator planned to analyze reports and check the airline’s safety. “We’re taking the issue seriously,” he added. | The head of India’s airline regulator said he was awaiting a report from Air India, the state-run carrier, and Boeing before making any decision. “We’re not looking at grounding the aircraft,” said Arun Mishra, director general of civil aviation, noting that the regulator planned to analyze reports and check the airline’s safety. “We’re taking the issue seriously,” he added. |
| The Dreamliner relies more on electrical systems than previous generations of airplanes. Electrical power operates hydraulic pumps, de-ices the wings, pressurizes the cabin and handles other tasks. The plane also has electric brakes instead of hydraulic ones. | The Dreamliner relies more on electrical systems than previous generations of airplanes. Electrical power operates hydraulic pumps, de-ices the wings, pressurizes the cabin and handles other tasks. The plane also has electric brakes instead of hydraulic ones. |
| The plane uses lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter, hold more energy and can be more quickly recharged than conventional batteries. But Boeing engineers have acknowledged that there is a risk of fire if the batteries are overcharged. | The plane uses lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter, hold more energy and can be more quickly recharged than conventional batteries. But Boeing engineers have acknowledged that there is a risk of fire if the batteries are overcharged. |
| The Japanese manufacturer GS Yuasa, which makes batteries for the Dreamliner, declined to comment on the jet’s troubles. Shares in the manufacturer, based in Kyoto, fell 4.5 percent. Shares in another Japanese company, Toray, which manufactures the carbon fiber that reinforces the jet’s fuselage, fell 4.1 percent, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which makes the wings, was down 3.2 percent. | The Japanese manufacturer GS Yuasa, which makes batteries for the Dreamliner, declined to comment on the jet’s troubles. Shares in the manufacturer, based in Kyoto, fell 4.5 percent. Shares in another Japanese company, Toray, which manufactures the carbon fiber that reinforces the jet’s fuselage, fell 4.1 percent, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which makes the wings, was down 3.2 percent. |
| While problems are common with early models — including the Airbus A380, the Boeing 777 and the Boeing 747 — analysts say the issue could become a growing embarrassment for Boeing if travelers or airlines begin to lose confidence in the Dreamliner. Because so many Japanese-based manufacturers supply parts for the Dreamliner, any delays or cancellations of orders would be a blow to Japanese industry. | While problems are common with early models — including the Airbus A380, the Boeing 777 and the Boeing 747 — analysts say the issue could become a growing embarrassment for Boeing if travelers or airlines begin to lose confidence in the Dreamliner. Because so many Japanese-based manufacturers supply parts for the Dreamliner, any delays or cancellations of orders would be a blow to Japanese industry. |
| So far, safety experts have said the problems with the Dreamliner point more to early-stage difficulties than structural faults. But the problem is more than just one of reputation for Boeing: The plane maker has said it expects to sell 5,000 Dreamliners in the next 20 years. Analysts say it will be years before it breaks even because of delays. | So far, safety experts have said the problems with the Dreamliner point more to early-stage difficulties than structural faults. But the problem is more than just one of reputation for Boeing: The plane maker has said it expects to sell 5,000 Dreamliners in the next 20 years. Analysts say it will be years before it breaks even because of delays. |
| Scoot, the low-cost offshoot of Singapore Airlines, and Qantas Group of Australia, both of which have placed large orders for the aircraft — but have not yet taken delivery of any — said they remained committed to it. | Scoot, the low-cost offshoot of Singapore Airlines, and Qantas Group of Australia, both of which have placed large orders for the aircraft — but have not yet taken delivery of any — said they remained committed to it. |
| Qantas said it had been kept “fully informed” by Boeing about the performance of the Dreamliner since it entered commercial service in 2011. | Qantas said it had been kept “fully informed” by Boeing about the performance of the Dreamliner since it entered commercial service in 2011. |
| “We are confident that the current issues will be resolved before Jetstar receives its first aircraft as scheduled in the second half of this year,” it said, referring to Qantas’s low-cost carrier. | “We are confident that the current issues will be resolved before Jetstar receives its first aircraft as scheduled in the second half of this year,” it said, referring to Qantas’s low-cost carrier. |
| Scoot, which expects to receive the first of 20 Dreamliners late next year, likewise said it was “confident that Boeing’s ongoing performance monitoring and external review process will identify and resolve any issues.” | Scoot, which expects to receive the first of 20 Dreamliners late next year, likewise said it was “confident that Boeing’s ongoing performance monitoring and external review process will identify and resolve any issues.” |
| Bettina Wassener reported from Hong Kong. Nicola Clark contributed reporting from Paris, Jad Mouawad from New York and Sruthi Gottipati from New Delhi. | Bettina Wassener reported from Hong Kong. Nicola Clark contributed reporting from Paris, Jad Mouawad from New York and Sruthi Gottipati from New Delhi. |