Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Experiences Catastrophic Takeoff in Munich

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner narrowly avoided disaster at Munich Airport on August 15 after it failed to lift off from runway 26L and overran the paved surface, causing a tail strike.

The aircraft, registered VN-A867, was attempting to take off for Hanoi when it became airborne only after traveling 120 meters past the end of the runway. A tail strike occurred as the pilots pulled back hard on the controls in an attempt to get the plane airborne.

After detecting a tire pressure issue at around 10,000 feet, the crew decided not to continue to Hanoi and instead returned to Munich for a second landing. The flight landed back on runway 26R after circling for roughly two hours, dumping fuel in the process.

The aircraft made contact with airport infrastructure as it struggled to climb, causing damage to the runway lights at the departure end. A ground inspection found that the plane had sustained punctured fuselage and torn composite panels, which could take months to repair.