Debris from the engine of a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, assembled in South Carolina, fell onto a Charleston runway Saturday, sparking a grass fire and shutting down the airport for more than an hour.
The Post and Courier of South Carolina reports two flights had to be diverted at Charleston International Airport after the incident. Nobody was hurt.
The unpainted plane was the latest one assembled at the Boeing facility in North Charleston, S.C. General Electric made the engine that was installed on the plane.
When emergency crews responding to the fire discovered metal debris on the approach to the runway, the runway was shut down in order to sweep the area. A second runway is being rebuilt.
Boeing spokesperson Candy L. Eslinger released this statement:
A 787 experienced an engine issue July 28 while undergoing preflight
runway testing in North Charleston. As the NTSB investigates, Boeing and
GE are working closely with the agency and are committed to resolving
the issue appropriately.
While the investigation is in its early stages, we are unaware of any
operational issue that would present concerns about the continued safe
operation of in-service 787s powered by GE engines. However, should the
investigation determine a need to act, Boeing has the processes in place
to take action and will do so appropriately.
The 787 Dreamliner is also assembled in Everett.
