Dreamliner: Most Boeing 787 planes grounded on safety fears

Airlines have grounded nearly all of Boeing's flagship 787 Dreamliner planes amid continuing safety concerns.

The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) issued a directive to temporarily take the planes out of service while safety checks were carried out.

European regulators have also called for the planes to be grounded.

Boeing said the planes were safe and that it stood by the integrity of the Dreamliner, which has been in service since October 2011.

A string of issues in recent weeks have raised questions about the 787.

Dreamliners have suffered incidents including fuel leaks, a cracked cockpit window, brake problems and an electrical fire. However, it is the battery problems that have caused the most concern.

Companies on the order books include UK holiday firm Thompson, which was due to take delivery of Dreamliners next month, followed by British Airways and Virgin.

The FAA said it would work with the manufacturer and carriers on an action plan to allow the US 787 fleet to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible.

"The in-flight Japanese battery incident followed an earlier 787 battery incident that occurred on the ground in Boston on January 7, 2013," the regulator said.