(AP) -- Airplane production continues normally at Boeing's South Carolina 787 assembly plant although federal authorities have grounded planes now in service while onboard batteries are checked.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the jetliners following battery fires on two planes flown by Japanese carriers.
A spokeswoman for Boeing said Thursday that production continues at the company's North Charleston assembly plant employing about 6,000 workers.
She said she could not comment further but referred to a statement the company released. In that statement Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said the 787 is safe and the company will take every needed step to assure the public of the safety of the plane.
Four 787s made in South Carolina are in service. There have been no problems reported with the batteries in those planes.
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