Is Boeing's 787 Dreamliner in trouble?

The future of aircraft has run into some ominous problems

A Japan Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft
(Image credit: AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

After years of delays, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner was rolled out in late 2011 to generally rapturous reviews. The Dreamliner is not only the world's first passenger plane to be composed largely of lightweight carbon composite, which helps save fuel and cuts down on energy costs, it also boasts higher ceilings, larger windows, bigger overhead cabins, and — cue light bursting through clouds, angels singing — touch-free faucets and toilets in the bathroom.

But the lofty expectations for the Dreamliner returned to earth this week, with a series of mishaps that have called the aircraft's safety into question. On Monday, an electrical fire broke out in a Japan Airlines Dreamliner that had arrived in Boston from Tokyo. The next day, another JAL Dreamliner returned to its gate in Boston after it suffered a large fuel leak. And today, an All Nippon Airways Dreamliner in Japan canceled a domestic flight after its computer indicated — mistakenly as it turns out — a problem with the plane's brakes.

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Ryu Spaeth

Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.