A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 was involved in a serious incident on Saturday, August 15, while departing Munich for Hanoi. The aircraft, registered VN-A867 and operating flight VN34, initiated rotation extremely late, passed beyond the end of runway 26L and, according to preliminary information, became airborne only after leaving the paved surface. The crew subsequently returned to Munich, with all passengers and crew members reported safe and uninjured.

According to The Aviation Herald, the aircraft continued accelerating along almost the entire length of runway 26L. During the very late rotation, large clouds of dust and dirt were thrown into the air and the aircraft’s tail struck the ground. The Aviation Herald reports that photographic evidence available to the publication shows the Boeing 787 becoming fully airborne approximately 120 metres beyond the end of the runway, already over the grass and near the first row of approach lights. Preliminary information also indicates that runway lighting equipment beyond the runway end was damaged.

The incident was also witnessed and recorded by aircraft spotters near Munich Airport. aeroTELEGRAPH quoted Thomas Mai, who was filming the departure and noticed that the aircraft had still not become airborne as it passed the area near the Lufthansa Technik hangars, leaving very little runway remaining. Video footage shows a large cloud of dust rising behind the aircraft shortly before it finally begins to climb.

After departure, the crew climbed to approximately 10,000 feet and reported a tyre-pressure indication. The aircraft then remained airborne over Bavaria for around 90 minutes in order to reduce its landing weight before returning to Munich. Prior to landing, the Boeing 787 conducted two low approaches over runway 26R so that the condition of the landing gear could be visually inspected from the ground.

During the subsequent landing on runway 26R, smoke was observed coming from the area of the left main landing gear. The aircraft then became disabled on the runway and had to be removed. As a result, Munich Airport’s northern runway was temporarily closed, with operations concentrated on the southern runway, causing disruptions and potential delays.

A Munich Airport spokesperson confirmed to German media that the aircraft had remained on the runway for an unusually long time during takeoff and that damage to the tyres and landing gear was identified following its return. A representative of Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, BFU, was also involved. The cause of the incident has not yet been determined.

Vietnam Airlines confirmed that flight VN34 had to return to Munich after departure due to what the carrier described as a “technical issue”. The airline said the crew followed the prescribed procedures and landed the aircraft safely. All passengers and crew members were reported to be in good condition and were transported back to the terminal after landing. Vietnam Airlines is cooperating with the relevant authorities in determining the cause of the incident and is arranging alternative travel for affected passengers.

Weather conditions at the time of departure were good, with CAVOK conditions, a temperature of approximately 34 degrees Celsius and very light winds. There is currently no official information linking the weather conditions to the incident.

VN-A867 is a Boeing 787-9, manufacturer serial number 39287, produced in 2016 and just over ten years old at the time of the incident.

The exact reason why the aircraft used virtually the entire available runway length before rotating remains unknown. Investigators will need to determine whether takeoff performance calculations, aircraft configuration, actual takeoff weight, a technical issue or another factor contributed to the event. Until preliminary findings are released, such possibilities remain speculative. The information currently available confirms an unusually long takeoff roll, an excursion beyond the runway end, damage to the aircraft and a safe return without injuries.