Boeing Reports An Electrical Fire On 787 ZA002, Crew Executed An Emergency Landing

During approach to Laredo, Texas on Tuesday, Boeing's Dreamliner ZA002 lost primary electrical power as a result of an onboard electrical fire. Backup systems, including the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), functioned as expected and allowed the crew to complete a safe landing. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Dreamliner ZA002 File Photo

In a statement on the company website, Boeing said the pilots executed a safe landing and at all times had positive control of the airplane and all of the information necessary to perform that safe landing. Initial inspection appears to indicate that a power control panel in the aft electronics bay will need to be replaced on ZA002. Boeing is inspecting the power panel and surrounding area near that panel to determine if other repairs will be necessary.

The company has retrieved flight data from the airplane and is analyzing it in Seattle, according to the statement. They expect that process will take several days. The team was conducting monitoring of the Nitrogen Generation System at the time of the incident but there is no reason to suspect that the monitoring or earlier testing of that system had anything to do with the incident.

Dreamliner ZA002 File Photo

Boeing says that until the cause of the electrical fire is better understood, flight testing on the dreamliner is suspended. Boeing officials say that decision is consistent with the company's internal processes. Ground test activities will be conducted until flight test resumes.

The statement also says that it is impossible to determine the impact of this event on the overall program schedule until the data is analyzed. Teams will continue to work until analysis is complete and a path forward is determined.

FMI: www.boeing.com