Boeing Dreamliner makes emergency landing in Taxas

WASHINGTON - A Boeing 787 Dreamliner made an emergency landing in Texas during a test flight on Tuesday after smoke was observed in the main cabin.

The incident occurred as the twin-engine 787 approached the airport in Laredo, Texas.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter, as saying that the aircraft touched down safely and the crew ” evacuated the airplane,” which was met by emergency crews on the runway.

“We are continuing to gather data regarding this event,” she added.

The Dreamliner is Boeing’s next-generation passenger jet, touted as a highly fuel-efficient aircraft made largely with composite materials.

Boeing had to postpone the jet’s commercial debut six times, now set for the first quarter, while struggling with materials, parts shortages, redesign work and a new production system for the first airliner to be built chiefly of plastic composites, the paper said.

The Dreamliner involved in the Texas landing has made 179 test flights spanning more than 558 hours, according to Boeing’s website.

Today’s trip began in Yuma, Arizona, and lasted about six hours and five minutes before the jet touched down at 2.47pm local time, the plane-tracking site FlightAware.com said. (ANI)