Boeing 787 Dreamliner Makes First San Jose Stop Without Problems
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- A Boeing 787 Dreamliner, currently under a major review by federal authorities over safety concerns, took off Friday from Mineta San Jose International Airport on a direct flight to Tokyo without any difficulties, an airport spokeswoman said.
The All Nippon Airways-owned aircraft started the airline's new nonstop service from San Jose to Japan when the plane lifted off at 11:54 a.m. and will arrive in Tokyo around 4:10 p.m. Saturday, airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes said.
The Boeing 787 landed in San Jose from a flight from Tokyo at 9:25 a.m. Friday, 50 minutes earlier than expected, Barnes said.
"There was no issue with the aircraft flight landing and departing," Barnes said.
The successful takeoff came as the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it would conduct a series of "comprehensive reviews" of the model Boeing 787, including is design, manufacture and assembly.
The FAA made the announcement as it is investigating three serious incidents this week involving Boeing 787 Dreamliners used by Japanese airlines.
An All Nippon Airways flight in Japan on Wednesday involving a Boeing 787 was cancelled amid computer problems.
On Tuesday, a fuel leak on a 787 flight prompted a Japan Airways flight to return to Boston's Logan International Airport, and an electrical fire grounded another Japan Airways 787 in Boston on Monday.
Federal inspectors will be focusing on electrical power and distribution systems and how mechanical systems work together on the model 787, the FAA reported.
The only American-based airline using the model 787 is United Airlines, which has 50 of the aircraft, the FAA said.
All Nippon plans to offer five weekly nonstop flights from San Jose to Tokyo, Barnes said.
An FAA spokesman at its regional headquarters in Los Angeles could not be reach for comment.
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