Even with the FAA grounding the Dreamliner and not issuing a statement about when they would allow the plane to fly again, Air India flew several of their Dreamliners, without any passengers on board, after the grounding order from United States, European and Japanese regulators.
The airline which has been financially struggling for some time made the decision in order to relocate their Dreamliners to Mumbai from Delhi. According to Wall Street Journal Air India officials confirmed the flights, but say they only flew after consulting Boeing first, according to Wall Street Journal.
The reason for the move was due to Air India wanting their Dreamliners to be maintained at their Mumbai base, but people close to the situation feel it had more to do with Delhi's "high aircraft parking charges," according to Wall Street Journal.
The U.S. FAA only has direct juristic over United States' flights, but were displeased once hearing the news.
Citing unnamed "people familiar with the situation, the Wall Street Journal writes FAA officials "appear willing to consider non-passenger 787 flights under special conditions." However, Air India didn't ask FAA for its approval before flying their planes.
Air India isn't the only airline with stranded Dreamliners lying around: The Wall Street Journal reports that " United has a Dreamliner stuck in Tokyo, Qatar Airways has one in London while Polish carrier LOT has one in Chicago."
Though the FAA is considering letting the Dreamliner fly without passengers, they will not come to a decision until" the 'root cause' of the jet's battery problem is resolved," according to the Wall Street Journal.
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