NTSB Dreamliner Update: Investigation on batteries continues

Motley Rice aviation attorney Mary Schiavo, former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, has been closely following the Boeing 787 Dreamliner issues and was recently interviewed by several media outlets to discuss the recent developments surrounding the FAA inspection of the lithium ion battery.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, about three weeks after the Dreamliner was grounded, to provide an update on its investigation into the troubled aircraft. At the press conference, the NTSB confirmed that the fire on one of the Dreamliners was caused by a short circuit in one of the lithium ion batteries, but what it has not determined is what caused that short circuit and consequent fire.  

As she told CNBC's Squawk on the Street, Schiavo thinks that Boeing has found some remedies to these battery issues but added that the FAA's original certification of the battery is cause for concern. "Remember, the majority of the NTSB's recommendations over the years have been aimed at the FAA, so [the NTSB is] also looking at the FAA to see where they didn't do its job because they're in the cross-hairs of the NTSB as well. The NTSB looks at the big picture, and the FAA will be in for some criticism."

Learn more about these issues with the Boeing Dreamliner and the FAA, and watch and listen to the following interviews with Mary:

CNBC's Squawk on the Street: 787 Investigation continues (Feb. 7, 2013)

Seattle Times: FAA faulted for outsourcing 787 safety checks to Boeing (Feb. 4, 2013)

WCIV - Channel 4 Charleston: NTSB locates hot spot in Boeing lithium ion batteries (Feb. 7, 2013)