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JAL probes 787 battery smoke seen before flight

One of eight cells found venting liquid through safety valve during maintenance

Published Wed, Jan 15, 2014 · 10:00 PM

    [TOKYO] Japan Airlines Co (JAL) is investigating what caused a battery on a Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner to smoke during pre-flight maintenance, a year after a fire on one of the carrier's jets helped spur the grounding of the global fleet.

    Mechanics found that one of eight battery cells had vented liquid through a safety valve on Jan 13, while the others were intact, said Seiji Takaramoto, a JAL spokesman. Instruments in the cockpit showed a possible fault in a main battery and a main battery charger, he said.

    The incident is the first sign of a battery failure since Boeing redesigned the units after a pair of meltdowns on 787s, one flown by JAL and the other by ANA Holdings Inc.

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