The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that aerospace manufacturer Boeing could resume test flights of its 787 Dreamliners, which were grounded in January over battery problems, dpa reports.
Airlines were forced to take the newly delivered model out of service after a battery on one plane melted and another caught fire after landing.
"As part of our ongoing efforts to determine the root cause of recent Boeing 787 lithium-ion battery incidents, the FAA will permit Boeing to conduct test flights of 787 aircraft to gather additional data," the US aviation regulator said.
"The traveling public's safety is our highest priority. These test flights will be an important part of our efforts to ensure the safety of passengers and return these aircraft to service."
The test flights will be conducted with extra safety requirements and limited to airspace over unpopulated areas, allowing Boeing engineers to collect data about the battery and electrical systems in flight, the FAA said
