Heathrow closes runways after plane fire

Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Ethiopian Airlines catches fire at London's main airport, forcing its shut down.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Ethiopian Airlines has caught fire at Britain's Heathrow airport, forcing the closure of both of its runways.

A spokeswoman at London's main airport said on Friday fire services were attending the incident. There were no passengers aboard the plane.

Television footage showed the Dreamliner surrounded by foam used by firefighters.

The lightweight new plane suffered a series of battery fires earlier this year, causing it to be grounded until Boeing came up with a fix.

On April 27, Ethiopian Airlines was the first carrier to resume flights with Dreamliner passenger jets, three months after they were grounded over the battery meltdowns.

Meanwhile, shares in Boeing fell over five percent in New York.