Munich : A Vietnam Airlines flight narrowly escaped a major accident during takeoff from Munich Airport in Germany after its tail is believed to have hit the runway. The aircraft later returned to Munich, while fuel was released for more than an hour to reduce its weight before landing.
According to a report by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the Boeing 787-9 aircraft slowed down twice during its takeoff roll. By the time its speed dropped for the second time, the aircraft had already crossed a large part of the runway. Despite this, the pilots continued the takeoff and the aircraft managed to take off with only around 91 metres of runway left.
The incident took place on August 15. Vietnam Airlines flight VN34, flying to Hanoi, took off from Munich at 1:45 pm local time. There were 271 passengers and 16 crew members on board.
Soon after takeoff, the pilots noticed signs of a technical problem and decided to return to Munich.
Aircraft Speed Dropped Twice During Takeoff
According to the initial investigation, when the aircraft had covered around half of runway 26L, its speed stopped increasing for about two seconds.
The aircraft then picked up speed again and reached V1 speed. V1 is the speed after which stopping a takeoff becomes very risky.
A short time later, the pilots again noticed a drop in speed. By then, there was not enough runway left to safely stop the takeoff.
The pilots increased engine thrust to maximum and continued the takeoff. The front of the aircraft lifted when only around 91 metres of runway was left, allowing the Boeing 787-9 to take off.
Signs of Tail Strike and Low Tyre Pressure
Soon after takeoff, the aircraft showed signs of a possible tail strike and low tyre pressure. The crew informed air traffic control and decided to return to Munich.
According to the report, the aircraft climbed to around 9,000 feet. To reduce the aircraft’s weight before landing, the crew started releasing fuel. The aircraft continued flying around the airport for more than an hour.
Passengers saw fuel being released from both wings. One passenger, Nguyen Ninh, said he felt during takeoff that the front part of the aircraft continued moving on the runway for a long time.
He said he heard a loud sound when the nose of the aircraft lifted. After some time, the captain informed passengers about a technical problem and said the aircraft would return to Munich.
Passengers Told to Take Brace Position
Tension increased among passengers while the aircraft was returning to Munich.
According to Ninh, the aircraft icon on the flight screen could be seen circling around the airport for a long time. Before landing, the cabin crew told passengers to take the ‘brace position’.
The aircraft also made two low-altitude circles around the airport so that air traffic controllers could check the condition of the landing gear.
Finally, the aircraft landed safely on runway 26R at 3:57 pm local time. The entire incident, from takeoff to landing, lasted around two hours.
Four Tyres Burst, Tail Also Damaged
According to the initial investigation, four of the aircraft’s eight main landing gear tyres were found burst. Three were on the left side and one was on the right side.
Investigators also found long scratch marks on the lower rear part of the aircraft. The outer surface was damaged at several places.
These marks suggest that the aircraft’s tail may have hit the runway during takeoff. However, ground staff did not find any sign of fire or smoke.
All 271 passengers and 16 crew members on board were safe.
Aircraft Still at Munich Airport
The Boeing 787-9, registered as VN-A867, has been kept at Munich Airport for further technical inspection.
After landing, the aircraft could not taxi on its own from the northern runway. Because of this, the runway had to be closed for some time and air traffic was shifted to the southern runway.
Videos that emerged after the incident show the aircraft accelerating for an unusually long distance before reaching near the end of the runway. A large cloud of dust can also be seen behind the aircraft.
Another video shows a loud sound during takeoff, while heavy smoke can be seen around the landing gear during the return flight.
Investigation Underway in Germany
Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) is investigating the incident.
The aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and sent to the BFU headquarters in Braunschweig for examination.
Investigators are mainly looking into why the aircraft took such a long distance to take off and why its speed dropped twice during the takeoff roll.
Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority is coordinating with German authorities. Vietnam Airlines has also been asked to cooperate in the investigation with the aircraft and engine manufacturers.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.