FAA reviewing Boeing proposal on 787 battery fix

WASHINGTON (AFP) - United States (US) air-safety regulators said on Friday that they were reviewing a Boeing proposal to fix battery problems on the 787 Dreamliner that have kept the aircraft grounded worldwide since mid-January.

After meeting with senior Boeing executives to discuss the ongoing investigation of the battery issues, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that Boeing had offered a plan to address the problems.

"The FAA is reviewing a Boeing proposal and will analyze it closely," the regulator said in a statement.

"The safety of the flying public is our top priority and we won't allow the 787 to return to commercial service until we're confident that any proposed solution has addressed the battery failure risks." Boeing said minutes earlier that it was "encouraged" by progress in the air-safety investigation.