Boeing says 787 planes safe

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The aircraft had been grounded since January following two separate cases of batteries overheating, calling into question the safety of the plane.

But Boeing says the plane is safe and ready to return to the air after getting U.S. approval for its lithium-ion battery fix.

Company representatives say the reinforced batteries have solved the problem, even though the root cause of the overheating issue wasn't discovered.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BOEING CHIEF ENGINEER AND 787 PROJECT LEADER MICHAEL SINNETT SAYING:

"Because we know that the enclosure can protect the airplane from the worst case battery failure, in some ways it almost doesn't matter what the root cause was."

Japan has already approved Dreamliner flights to resume operations, as long as the planes boast the new reinforced batteries.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BOEING CHIEF ENGINEER AND 787 PROJECT LEADER MICHAEL SINNETT SAYING:

"And while we deeply regret the i