Stray tool 'caused Boeing 787 Dreamliner fire'

A FIRE on a Boeing 787 flight earlier this month was reportedly started by a stray tool in an electrical equipment cabinet that caused a short circuit.

There are concerns about the fleet's electrical layout after news that the "breakdown" in the first electrical bay spread to a second bay, forcing the plane to use back-up systems to land, French newspaper La Tribune reported.

Engineers are trying to find a way to prevent the situation from happening again, the paper said, citing "industry sources".

A Boeing spokesperson has declined to comment on the accuracy of the report.

"The investigation is not complete. Anything indicating cause or next steps is just speculation at this point."

The company said earlier this month that a failure in an electrical panel led to the fire, which involved an insulation blanket.

Boeing, the world's second-largest plane-maker behind Airbus, halted test flights on the much-delayed 787 following the November 9 fire, which forced the emergency landing of the plane in Texas.

The 30-plus people onboard the aircraft were taken off the plane using emergency slides.

It is not yet known whether the incident will affect Boeing's plans to make the first delivery of the plane early next year.

The jetliner has been plagued by problems since the program launched in 2004 and is currently more than two years behind schedule.

Boeing has 863 orders from 56 companies worth about $150 billion for the 787.

The next-generation, wide-body plane is the first passenger jet to be largely built from lightweight and environmentally friendly composite material.

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