A Vietnam Airlines plane suffered substantial damage on its flight from Munich to Hanoi on August 15, with its speed dropping twice during take-off, four tyres bursting and the aircraft suffering tail-strike damage.
However, despite the damage, the plane managed to land safely back at Munich Airport after circling in the air for around two hours, during which it reduced its weight by dumping fuel.
The Hanoi-bound Boeing 787-9, operating as flight VN34, took off from Munich at around 1:45 PM local time with 271 passengers and 16 crew members on board. All passengers and crew were safe. The aircraft later returned to the airport after the pilots detected technical problems shortly after take-off.
Speed dropped twice during take-off
A preliminary report by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has now revealed more details about the dramatic departure.
According to the report, cited in the local Vietnamese media, the aircraft's speed stopped increasing for around two seconds when it was about halfway down runway 26L. The plane then accelerated again and reached V1, the speed at which pilots must decide whether to continue or abort a take-off.
Shortly afterwards, however, the aircraft's speed dropped again. By that point, the pilots determined that there was not enough runway left to safely abort the take-off.
The crew therefore continued the departure and pushed the engine thrust levers to maximum. With only around 91 metres of runway remaining, the pilot raised the aircraft's nose and the Boeing 787 became airborne.
Videos circulating online show the aircraft accelerating for an unusually long distance before taking off close to the end of the runway, with dust trailing behind it.
Plane dumped fuel before returning to Munich
Shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft generated warnings indicating a possible tail strike and low tyre pressure. The crew informed air traffic control and decided to return to Munich.
The aircraft climbed to around 9,000 feet before beginning to dump fuel to reduce its weight for landing. It then circled near the airport for more than an hour.
Passengers, cited in the local media, said the mood inside the cabin became tense after the captain announced that the aircraft had developed a technical problem. Cabin crew later instructed passengers to assume the brace position as the plane prepared to land.
The Boeing 787 also made two low-altitude circuits around the airport, allowing air traffic controllers to visually inspect its landing gear before landing.
The aircraft finally touched down safely on runway 26R at around 3:57 pm local time, roughly two hours after its departure.
Four tyres burst, tail struck runway
A preliminary inspection found that four of the aircraft's eight main landing-gear tyres had burst. Three were damaged on the left side and one on the right.
Investigators also found scrape marks on the underside of the rear fuselage and damage to the aircraft's outer skin, indicating that the tail had struck the runway during take-off.
There were no reports of injuries or fire. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 registered as VN-A867, remains grounded at Munich Airport for further technical checks.
The incident also temporarily disrupted airport operations after the aircraft could not taxi away from the runway under its own power.
German authorities lead investigation
Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) is leading the investigation. The aircraft's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and taken to the BFU's headquarters in Braunschweig for examination.
Investigators are expected to focus on why the aircraft's speed dropped twice during the take-off roll and why the departure required such an unusually long runway distance.
Vietnam's CAAV is assisting German authorities, while Vietnam Airlines has been asked to cooperate with investigators, Boeing and the aircraft's engine manufacturer to determine what caused the incident.
