Boeing airlines stock
Boeing stock plunged after it was reported that a battery on board began showing signs of damage. Google Finance

Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) stock has plunged just hours after smoke was reported coming from a main battery onboard a 787 Dreamliner.

The stock, which opened Tuesday trading at $140.70, crashed from a high of $141.70 to $137.80 in late morning and then recovered partially to around $139 by mid-afternoon.

Japan Airlines Co. Ltd (TYO:9201) said a maintenance crew at Tokyo's Narita Airport saw smoke coming from the main battery of a 787 jet, only two hours before the plane was due to fly to Bangkok.

Boeing has been plagued by battery overheating problems on its newest jet. Aviation regulators grounded the aircraft worldwide for more than three months in early 2013 after the issue first emerged. In January 2013, a battery caught fire at Logan Airport in Boston on another JAL Dreamliner, prompting the grounding of all 787s worldwide.

According to a Reuters report, unidentified liquid was seen coming from the battery as alarms in the cockpit indicated faults with the power pack and the charger.

RELATED STORIES