Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Grounded After Munich Tail Strike

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner was involved in an incident at Munich's Franz Josef Strauss International Airport on August 15, resulting in a tail strike. The aircraft, bound for Hanoi Noi Bai International from Munich, returned to the airport after taking off and landed safely, but with damage to its rear end.

The airline has confirmed that the aircraft will be out of service for several weeks while repairs are made. This is due to the type of material used in the construction of the 787, which makes repairs more complex.

Tail strikes are a common occurrence in aviation, with 51 accidents recorded globally in 2025, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). While not all tail strikes result in damage, the incident rate is higher for landings than takeoffs.