Solar Impulse 2's around-the-world flight on hold for at least nine months

Plane grounded in Hawaii until spring 2016 after on-board batteries overheat on first day of record-breaking trip from Japan to Pacific island chain

A team attempting to fly a solar-powered plane around the world has been forced to suspend its journey in Hawaii after the plane suffered battery damage during its record-breaking flight to the islands.

The Solar Impulse team said it would continue the bid to circumvent the globe, but irreversible damage caused by overheating batteries would ground the flight until at least April.