Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Damaged After Taking Off Dangerously Late From Munich
A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 aircraft experienced a tail strike after taking off from Munich Airport on August 15, 2026. The plane was flying as flight VN34 to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi when it rotated very late and became airborne, causing the tail to strike the ground.
The pilots, out of an abundance of caution, turned around and dumped fuel before circling back to Munich. The plane performed two low approaches before landing on runway 26R with smoke trailing from the left main gear.
A preliminary investigation suggests that the plane overran the end of the runway and damaged runway lights, causing a large cloud of dust and dirt to rise around the aircraft. Fahad Naim, an aviation insider, stated that the whole tail strike module has been damaged, with a clear puncture through the lower fuselage.
All passengers and crew were disembarked from the plane once back in Munich, and no one was injured following the incident. The carrier is now reaccommodating passengers for onward travel, and the airline is coordinating with relevant authorities to inspect the aircraft.