Vietnam Airlines 787-9 Suffers Tailstrike During Emergency Takeoff from Munich

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was forced to abort its journey from Munich to Hanoi on August 15, 2026, due to a suspected tailstrike during takeoff. The incident occurred when the aircraft accelerated along the runway for an abnormally long period, rotating late and maintaining a steep nose-high attitude.

According to eyewitness accounts and aviation tracking data, the flight crew discontinued the climb immediately after becoming airborne, entering a holding pattern near Munich to dump fuel. This procedure was necessary because widebody aircraft are too heavy for immediate landing upon takeoff.

The plane eventually touched down in Munich, revealing severe damage, including scuffing and deformation of the rear fuselage and shredded or deflated main-gear tires. The structural integrity of the 787's rear pressure bulkhead is crucial due to its composite-bodied construction, requiring specialized factory-authorized evaluations for repairs.

This incident highlights the complexities of widebody departures during peak summer travel, resulting in significant operational disruptions at Munich Airport and affecting regional connectivity between Germany and Vietnam. The loss of a 787-9 creates a gap in Vietnam Airlines' Germany-Vietnam program, potentially requiring adjustments to frequencies or aircraft repositioning from other routes.