Japan Airlines divert two Dreamliner flights due to new glitches

Problems unrelated to battery trouble which recently grounded the new Boeing aircraft

Two of the 787 Boeing Dreamliner jets were diverted back to their departure airports today after separate problems with the aircraft. Photograph: Toru Hanai/Reuters
Two of the 787 Boeing Dreamliner jets were diverted back to their departure airports today after separate problems with the aircraft. Photograph: Toru Hanai/Reuters

Japan Airlines, the world's second-largest operator of Boeing Dreamliners, diverted two of the 787 jets back to their departure airports today after separate problems with the aircraft.

A 787 bound for Tokyo returned to Moscow after electrical issues with the toilet and galley that were unrelated to the battery, said Norihisa Hanyu, a spokesman at the airline.

Another Dreamliner headed back to San Diego airport after an indicator showed problems with an engine de-icing system, said Takuya Shimoguchi, another company spokesman.

Problems with lithium-ion batteries led Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings, operator of the largest fleet of the aircraft, to ground their Dreamliners for more than four months this year.

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Within two weeks after 787 operations resumed in June, Japan Airlines canceled a Dreamliner flight because of an issue with the engine anti-icing system.

Boeing is aware of the problems and has been working with JAL to fix them, Rob Henderson, a spokesman in Tokyo for the company, said today.

The flight from San Diego, bound for Tokyo, was able to take off again after maintenance, Mr Shimoguchi said.

Bloomberg