LOC13:17
10:17 GMT
TOKYO, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- Japan Airlines Co. (JAL) said Wednesday the cause of
the fuel leak in its Boeing 787 Dreamliner at a US airport bound for Tokyo on
the previous day is a malfunctioning valve.
"The valve on a pipe connecting the fuel tank in the aircraft's body with
the left wing was open, and this caused fuel to spill out," JAL said. The fuel
leak forced flight JL 007 with 181 passengers and 11 crew members to postpone
takeoff.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was towed back to the gate after about 150 liters
of jet fuel leaked when the plane was taxiing toward the runway for takeoff.
All passengers temporarily disembarked and the aircraft eventually left for
Tokyo after almost four hours. None of the passengers and crew on board was
injured.
JAL said it plans to inspect the aircraft further after it arrives in
Tokyo's Narita Airport later in the day. It was the second incident in two
days involving JAL's brand-new Dreamliner at the same airport.
On Monday at Logan Airport, an electrical fire erupted on another
JAL-operated Dreamliner arriving from Tokyo shortly after passengers and crew
disembarked. The fire broke out in a battery in the plane's auxiliary power
unit, which is used when the jet's engines are turned off.
The Dreamliner jet is Boeing's latest model. JAL has ordered a total of 45
Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including seven it is already operating. (end)
mk.asa
KUNA 091317 Jan 13NNNN