Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Suffers Tail Strike During Emergency Landing in Munich

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 aircraft overran the end of Munich Airport's northern runway during takeoff on August 15. The incident was caught on video, showing the jet using nearly the full length of the runway before lifting off. A cloud of dust or debris can be seen at the end of the runway, suggesting that the main gear or tail may have contacted ground installations or terrain beyond the paved surface.

The aircraft, registered VN-A867 and operating flight VN34 to Hanoi, appeared to rotate very late, with some observers describing it as a 'very late rotation.' The plane then leveled off at a low altitude and entered a holding pattern near Munich for over an hour. During this time, the crew dumped fuel to reduce weight before attempting an emergency landing back at the departure airport.

After completing fuel dumping, the 787-9 set up for an approach to Munich's northern runway. Airport operations data indicate that fire and rescue services were positioned along the runway as a precaution. The return landing was dramatic, with photographs showing the aircraft resting on the runway with several heavily damaged or shredded main-gear tires.

The incident caused significant disruption to traffic at Munich Airport, with delays and diversions reported for several inbound flights. Aviation analysts have focused on possible contributing factors related to takeoff performance, including incorrect assumed-temperature settings, weight calculations, or flap configurations.