Vietnam Airlines Flight Leaves Munich Runway With Just 91 Metres Remaining

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 experienced a serious take-off incident at Munich Airport after its speed unexpectedly dropped twice during the take-off roll, leaving the aircraft with only about 91 metres of runway remaining when it became airborne. Flight VN34, bound for Hanoi, was carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members when it departed at around 1:45 pm local time on August 15. All 287 people on board were reported safe.

According to Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority, the aircraft's acceleration stopped increasing for around two seconds during the initial take-off roll. The aircraft subsequently resumed accelerating and reached V1, the decision speed beyond which pilots generally continue the take-off if a problem occurs. However, its speed reportedly fell again after reaching that point, leaving the pilots with insufficient runway to safely abort the departure.

The crew therefore continued the take-off and increased engine thrust to maximum power. The Boeing 787 became airborne close to the end of the runway, with footage shared online appearing to show the aircraft using almost the entire available runway before lifting off. Soon after departure, the crew received warnings indicating a possible tail strike and abnormal tyre pressure. The pilots notified air traffic control and decided to return to Munich.

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The aircraft remained in the air for nearly two hours and reportedly flew at around 9,000 feet while fuel was dumped to reduce its weight before landing. It eventually returned safely to Munich Airport, but an inspection found significant damage, including evidence of a tail strike and four burst tyres. Footage of the landing also appeared to show smoke around the landing gear as the aircraft touched down.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation by aviation authorities in Germany and Vietnam. Investigators are examining why the aircraft's speed reportedly dropped twice during the take-off roll and whether a technical malfunction contributed to the unusual sequence of events. Vietnam Airlines confirmed that the aircraft experienced a technical issue and said the crew followed established safety procedures during the incident.

Vietnam Airlines, Boeing and the aircraft's engine manufacturer are cooperating with the investigation. Despite the dramatic departure, the subsequent return to Munich and the damage sustained by the aircraft, there were no reported fatalities or injuries among the 287 passengers and crew. Further findings from the investigation are expected to determine what caused the aircraft's unexpected loss of acceleration during take-off.

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