The new Boeing 787, the Dreamliner, landed for the first time Friday at Mineta San Jose International Airport for All Nipon's inaugural non-stop flight from San Jose to Japan.
But the plane arrived with a little added "baggage."
The Federal Aviation Administration announced this morning it is opening a probe on the new Dreamliner fleet after one 787 leaked fuel and another had an electrical fire.
The chairman of ANA, Yoji Ohashi, told NBC Bay Area he has not spoken about the probe to the FAA, so he can't comment officially on the concern. Through a translator, Ohashi said he feels the Dreamliner is safe and he has all the confidence in it.
Norman Mineta, the former Secretary of Transportation and former mayor of San Jose boarded the inaugural flight from SJC to Tokyo.
Before taking off, Mineta said he is glad the feds opened the probe. “Oh absolutely. You can’t just sweep it under the rug. You’ve go to deal with it, and that’s what the department of transportation and the FAA are doing, “ Mineta told NBC Bay Area.
The Tokyo route is something Silicon Valley executives have been clamoring for, for years.
“This is so important to Silicon Valley executives,” said Carl Guardino of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Michale Mulcahy took a group of about 20 business leaders with his Team San Jose.
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The object, to lure more Japanese business to the Silicon Valley.
“I realize that the kinds of convention and businesses we’re trying to bring here will only be benefited by direct flights to Asia, “ said Mulcahy.
The U.S. Ambassador to Japan, John Roos, stopped short for calling the flight to Tokyo a no brainer.
“There will be a tremendous opportunity for business,” said Roos. “We are making a direct route between the leader in the world in technology and a technological giant in Japan.”
The 787 took off just before noon on its 11 hour flight to Tokyo.