Boeing has warned airlines not to fly Dreamliners or the new 747-8 aircraft too close to thunderstorms in case engines ice up.
United Airlines is among 15 carriers that operate the aircraft with engines made by General Electric to have received the warning, after six aircraft suffered a loss of thrust at high altitude.
The warning has led to Japan Airlines (JAL) pulling its 787 Dreamliners from two international routes and postponing plans to launch the 787 on its Tokyo-Sydney route next month.
The ice warning is the latest in a list of technical hiccups for the Dreamliner aircraft, including battery problems that resulted in the fleet being grounded earlier this year.
General Electric said it is working on ‘software modifications’.
