Boeing to investigate Air India Dreamliner eight-foot 'panel fall'

Boeing will be investigating what caused a large panel in the underneath of an Air India jet to fall off in mid-air on Saturday.

Media reports said that although the Bangalore-bound Dreamliner aircraft landed safely, the incident put some 150 passengers at a grave risk.

According to the BBC, Air India said there was no emergency despite the 'gaping hole' in the plane.

The pilots flying the plane did not realize that the eight-by-four-foot panel was missing until after the flight landed.

Dreamliner aircraft have been hit by technical and safety problems since the first aircraft was displayed in 2009, the report added.