Euro regulators follow US in grounding troubled Dreamliners

But UK airlines due to fly the plane soon said they were confident their deliveries would not be affected.

Already years late into service due to production difficulties, the Boeing 787 has run into a series of in-air problems in recent days.

The latest incident, an emergency landing after battery problems, prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order US carriers to stop flying 787s.

Yesterday, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it was endorsing the FAA directive grounding the Dreamliner until the risk of fires is resolved.

The EASA order is for all European carriers flying the 787, which at the moment only applies to Polish airline LOT.

UK carrier Thomson Airways is set to be the first British airline to fly the Dreamliner. It is due to take delivery of the first of eight 787s this spring, with the first flights due to leave on May 1 for Cancun in Mexico and Florida.

British Airways is due to take delivery of the first of 24 Dreamliners in May, while Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to take the first of 16 787s in summer 2014.

Thomson Airways said yesterday: “We will await the outcome of the FAA investigation into the 787 Dreamliner. We are still working to our original delivery dates.”

Boeing said: “Boeing is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible. The company is working around the clock with its customers and the various regulatory and investigative authorities. We will make available the entire resources of the company to assist.

“We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity. Boeing deeply regrets the impact on the operating schedules of customers and inconvenience to them and their passengers.”