Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Vietnam Airlines 787 Barely Takes Off After Speed Drops
A Vietnam Airlines plane was flying from Munich to Hanoi with 287 people aboard.
During take-off, the plane’s speed stopped increasing twice.
The pilots decided it was no longer safe to stop, so they used maximum engine power and continued into the air.
The plane took off with only about 91 metres of runway left.
Soon afterward, warnings suggested that the back of the plane and its tyres might be damaged.
The pilots turned back to Munich and released fuel to make the plane lighter.
They circled for nearly two hours before landing safely.
Four tyres burst, and the underside near the tail was scraped.
Nobody was injured, and investigators are examining what caused the problem.
Flight VN34’s speed stopped increasing twice during take-off from Munich on August 15.
Pilots continued the departure after determining there was too little runway left to abort safely, leaving about 91 metres at liftoff.
Warnings indicated a possible tail strike and low tyre pressure shortly after the Boeing 787-9 became airborne.
The aircraft dumped fuel, circled for nearly two hours, and landed safely with four burst tyres and tail-strike damage.
Germany’s BFU is examining the recorders to determine why the speed dropped and the take-off roll was unusually long.
- Who
- Vietnam Airlines flight VN34, a Boeing 787-9 carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members.
- What
- The aircraft experienced two speed drops during take-off, then suffered a tail strike and four burst main-gear tyres before returning safely.
- When
- August 15; the flight departed at about 1:45 p.m. and landed at approximately 3:57 p.m. local time.
- Where
- The incident occurred on runway 26L and during the return landing on runway 26R at Munich Airport, Germany.
- Why
- The cause of the two speed drops and unusually long take-off roll remains under investigation; authorities are examining whether a technical malfunction contributed.
- Flight
- Vietnam Airlines VN34, operating from Munich to Hanoi
- Aircraft
- Boeing 787-9 registered as VN-A867
- People aboard
- 271 passengers and 16 crew members; all were reported safe
- Take-off
- The aircraft became airborne with about 91 metres of runway remaining
- Damage
- Four of eight main-gear tyres burst; the rear fuselage underside and outer skin were damaged by a tail strike
- Return flight
- The aircraft climbed to about 9,000 feet, dumped fuel, circled near Munich, and landed roughly two hours after departure
- Investigation
- Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation is leading the probe, with assistance from Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority
Sources
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 suffers tail strike, four burst tyres after speed drops twice during take-off
Speed dropped twice, tail struck runway, four tyres burst: Vietnam Airlines 787 barely gets airborne at Munich