A Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787 flight from Helsinki to Tokyo experienced a problem with its lithium-ion battery, just months after the Dreamliner fleet was cleared for flight after battery fires grounded it in January.
During flight 414 on 10 November a cockpit indicator showed one of the two batteries connected to the plane’s auxiliary power unit was in trouble. Following an inspection that showed no fault with the battery and the voltage and electrical current were within normal range, the flight continued.
“After its arrival we changed the auxiliary battery and charger, and the plane is now back in normal operation,” a JAL spokesman said. After landing in Tokyo without problems, maintenance crew found no immediate fault with the battery. It was removed for further inspection.
A JAL flight in Boston and an All Nippon Airways flight in Japan both experienced overheating batteries causing the entire fleet to be grounded for three months. This is the first battery related problem reported since the 787s were cleared for flight.
Following the previous incidents, Boeing admitted it did not know the cause of the fire but redesigned the battery and charging system to include steel casing.
