Boeing stock dives as fire on 787 owned by Ethiopian Airlines forces Heathrow to close runways

July 12, 2013 at 5:15PM

NEW YORK — Shares of Boeing are sinking after a fire aboard an empty 787 airplane flown by Ethiopian Airlines at Heathrow Airport.

British police said the fire is being treated as unexplained.

The entire fleet of 787s was grounded in January for problems involving the plane's lithium-ion batteries. One caught fire at Boston's Logan airport.

The planes resumed flying in May after Boeing made redesigns to the battery system that were approved by global aviation regulators. Ethiopian was the first airline to resume using the 787.

Boeing shares fell $7.20, or 6.7 percent, to $99.68, around midday in New York.

Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said in an email to The Associated Press that the company has personnel at looking into the event at Heathrow.

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