A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Ethiopian Airlines caught fire at Britain's Heathrow airport on Friday, forcing the closure of both of its runways.


Shares in Boeing fell over 5 per cent in New York. Television footage showed the Dreamliner surrounded by foam used by firefighters.


A Heathrow spokeswoman said fire services were attending the incident. There were no passengers aboard the plane.


The lightweight new plane suffered a series of battery fires earlier this year, causing it to be grounded until Boeing came up with a fix.


On April 27, Ethiopian Airlines was the first carrier to resume flights with Dreamliner passenger jets, three months after they were grounded over the battery meltdowns.


More to come