Japan 787 fire
A fire aboard a Japan Airlines 787 Dreamliner in Boston reportedly caused "significant structural damage" to the plane. (AP Photo/file)

NTSB denies report on level of damage after 787 battery fire

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on February 11, 2013 @ 3:32 pm (Updated: 9:34 am - 2/12/13 )

The National Transportation Safety Board is denying a report released by CBS Monday saying that the battery fire aboard a 787 last month caused "significant structural damage" to the aircraft.

On Monday, CBS' Sharyl Attkisson reported a source said the fire on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 in Boston, caused enough damage that officials hadn't decided whether to make repairs or just recover parts from the plane.

The source apparently said that the structural damage was so severe it could have separated the tail from the plane if the fire had happened during the flight.

After the report aired, the NTSB denied the accuracy of the report. CBS subsequently pulled the story. This report also appeared on MyNorthwest.com, and was revised following CBS' decision to stop use of the story.

No more details have emerged as to the accuracy of the original report.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
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Comments (4)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    caused enough damage that officials say they haven't decided to make repairs or just recover parts from the plane
    February 11, 2013 3:44 pm
    first 787 to head to the 787 wrecking yard. Good thing its under warranty! Look like this plane is going to bee a money maker for the lazy bee.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • iamsittinghere wrote...
    WHERE did this discovery come from??
    February 11, 2013 3:53 pm
    You would think that something as serious as "damage SO SEVERE the tail could have fallen off in flight" would show up on the www on ONE other place than one person's tweet?? Add to that - it's not decided if Boeing will SCRAP the plane?? Wow - this sure sounds like something that would make headlines everywhere...... but it isn't. What happened? Did everyone else's internet get shut off?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    You'd Think Damage that Severe...
    February 11, 2013 4:00 pm
    ...would have been reported by the NTSB.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    Somehow....
    February 11, 2013 3:57 pm
    I find this story to be a bit of a stretch.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }