This was no ordinary plane ride. No longer grounded for battery problems, United's Dreamliner 787 Flight 1 gained takeoff speed down a Houston runway Monday, en route to Chicago O'Hare. After months of concern about the 787's future, the excitement and tension was palpable aboard the first domestic commercial flight since January 16. In Seats 32 J, K, and L, Charles Marine, his wife Amira and 6-year-old son Dominic were going home after visiting the Lone Star State. Dominic, wearing a red T-shirt and headphones, chewed gum with a serious look on his face as the plane raced toward the end of the runway. Amira had a pillow on her lap, her hands folded as she faced forward. At one point, her husband placed his hand on hers.
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First domestic commercial Dreamliner flight since grounding was completed on Monday
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Boeing CEO: "We're very sorry about the delay caused by the technology workaround"
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Bendy, plastic wings made an impression on this author and aviation enthusiast
The plane, carrying 219 passengers including many reporters and executives from Boeing and @placeholder, began to lift into the air.