Japan officials find cause of Boeing Dreamliner fuel leaks

Tokyo, Japan (4E) – Japan’s transport ministry said local engineers have determined the cause of the fuel leaks that bogged down Boeing’s Dreamliners, although problems on the aircraft’s batteries are still being looked at.

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A Japan Airlines Boeing 787 flight headed for Tokyo was grounded in Boston last month after a fuel spill was detected as the airline also discovered the same issue with another Dreamliner aircraft in Tokyo.

The ministry also came up with conclusions on the probable reasons that led to three other 787 problems that occurred recently, which included a brake problem, power-generator oil leak and a cockpit window crack.

The fuel leak resolution makes no difference to the directive issued on Jan. 16 to ground the Dreamliners operated by Japan Airlines and All-Nippon Airways, which totals to 24. The order came following two separate incidents that saw the overheating of the plane’s lithium-ion batteries, forcing one of the flights to make an emergency landing.

As a result of the battery troubles, all 50 of the 787 Dreamliners in service worldwide have been grounded.

Boeing said there has been some progress on the batteries probe, although no details have been provided about the extent of the problems and ways on how to address them. This has led to speculation on the timetable of the grounding.

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