US authorities have ordered all Dreamliner services to be suspended due to fears that batteries could cause onboard fires.
The move by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US comes a day after Japanese regulators made a similar move to ground Boeing B787s being operated by JAL and ANA.
The FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive on the Dreamliner requiring all of the US-based B787s to “temporarily cease operations”.
“Before further flight, operators of US-registered Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration that the batteries are safe,” said the FAA in a statement.
“The cause of these failures is currently under investigation. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment.
“We are issuing this AD (airworthiness directive) because we evaluated all the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.”
The FAA move currently affects United which is the only US carrier to have Dreamliners in operation. Authorities in India and Chile have also suspended B787 flights which impacts Air India and Lan Chile respectively.
The European Aviation Safety Agency has followed suit as well, although Lot Airlines is the only EU carrier currently operating the Dreamliner.
Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said: "The safety of passengers and crew members who fly aboard Boeing airplanes is our highest priority.
"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 Boeing Company to assist.
"We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity. We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the traveling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service.
"Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers."