Boeing warns of engine icing risk on new Dreamliner planes

Johannesburg – Boeing has reportedly warned about a risk of engine icing on its new Dreamliner planes, urging 15 carriers to avoid flying them near high-level thunderstorms.

The new 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner planes, whose engines are made by General Electric, are said to be under risk.

According to News24, the warning made Japan Airlines pull 787 Dreamliners from two international routes and other affected airlines include Lufthansa, United Airlines, an arm of United Continental Holdings and Cathay Pacific Airlines.

The announcement followed six incidents involving five 747-8s and one 787 when the aircraft engines suffered temporary loss of thrust while flying at high altitude from April to November.

The report said that the problem was caused by a build-up of ice crystals, initially just behind the front fan, which ran through the engine, but the affected aircrafts landed at their planned destinations safely.

A GE spokesperson said that the aviation industry is experiencing a growing number of ice-crystal icing encounters in recent years as the population of large commercial airliners has grown, particularly in tropical regions of the world, the report added.

Dreamliner aircraft have been hit by technical and safety problems since the first aircraft was displayed in 2009.