All Nippon Airways has grounded its fleet of 17 Boeing 787 Dreamliners after flight NH692 from Yamaguchi Ube was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after take-off.

Japan Airlines has followed suit, confirming it would ground its fleet of seven 787s from 16 January until further notice.

This is the latest development in a long running series of problems for the Dreamliner project, which have significantly mounted in the past few weeks.

Earlier this month, both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and Japanese transport ministry said they would launch investigations in the aircraft following a spate of incidents.

Dreamliners have suffered a series of issues in recent weeks including fuel leaks, a cracked cockpit window, brake problems and an electrical fire.

The latest incident came earlier when ANA flight NH692 was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after take-off after smoke was reported in the cabin.

The flight, en route to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, landed at Takamatsu Airport, with a number of the 129 passengers and eight crew sustaining minor injuries.

Boeing 787

Dreamliners are presently in operation around the world, with launch customer All Nippon operating 17.

Other carriers using the plane include Air India (five), Ethiopian Airlines (four), Japan Airlines (seven), LAN Airlines (three), Lot Polish Airlines (two), Qatar Airways (five), and United Airlines (six).
 
Officials in India said there were no plans to ground the Dreamliners operated by Air India, while United, the only American carrier using the plane, said it would also continue to fly.

Qantas Airways added its order for 15 Dreamliners remained on track.

Its subsidiary Jetstar is due to take delivery of the first of its aircraft in the second half of this year.