Vietnam Airlines 787 Suffers Critical Tailstrike During Takeoff From Munich

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 aircraft suffered significant damage after a troubled takeoff from Munich Airport on August 15. The plane, operating flight VN34 from Munich to Hanoi, used nearly the full length of the runway before lifting off late and striking its tail on the ground.

The crew chose to continue with the takeoff despite the issue, but eventually returned to Munich for an emergency landing after dumping fuel. Passengers faced a prolonged period in the air as the jet circled to burn or dump fuel, followed by a precautionary emergency landing and subsequent disembarkation.

Photographs taken after the landing show extensive damage along the underside of the rear fuselage, with large scraped and missing sections of the composite skin visible. The impact forces may have caused deeper structural issues that require detailed non-destructive testing and manufacturer oversight.