Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 takes off late in Munich, returns with damaged landing gear
A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 lifted off unusually late from Munich's runway 26L on 15 August, circled for 90 minutes to dump fuel, and landed with a damaged left main gear that left the northern runway closed.
Late takeoff on runway 26L
A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, flight VN34 from Munich to Hanoi, began its takeoff roll on the southern runway 26L at Munich Airport shortly before 14:00 on Saturday, 15 August 2026. The aircraft, registered VN-A867, departed Terminal 1 with a slight delay. The four-kilometre southern runway is one of two at the airport. According to the aviation tracking site Aviation Herald, the Dreamliner had already overshot 120 meters beyond the usual rotation point when it lifted off, starting in a section of the runway that is very rarely reached. The late rotation kicked up a large dust cloud from the rear portion of the runway, and the aircraft reportedly damaged runway lighting and went into the grass before climbing. Eyewitnesses told RTL of a huge dust cloud, and the tail may have struck the ground during takeoff. Behind the runway's end lie a federal highway and agricultural fields.
A spotter who recorded the incident, known as Munich Aviation, described the moment:
At first there was nothing unusual to see or hear. But when it still hadn't lifted off by the Lufthansa maintenance hangars, I became very suspicious, because there isn't much runway left after that.
He noted that the aircraft was able to climb just in time.
Fortunately it managed to gain altitude at the very last moment. Behind the runway there is a federal highway and agricultural areas.
Return and fuel dumping
The pilot decided in the air not to continue to Hanoi but to return to Munich. The Boeing circled over the Erdinger Moos and Upper Bavaria for more than 90 minutes, making numerous loops to dump fuel and reduce landing weight. The flight tracking site Flightradar24 showed the aircraft's repeated circles south of the airport. The southern runway 26L was temporarily closed after the takeoff while a police helicopter inspected it from above; operations on that runway resumed afterward.
Landing and gear damage
The aircraft made two low passes over the northern runway 26R so that the landing gear could be visually inspected from the ground. On the third approach, approximately two hours after the original departure, the Dreamliner landed on 26R. Observers reported heavy smoke from the left main landing gear during touchdown, and tire debris separated from the aircraft. The aircraft attempted to roll off the runway under its own power but became immobilized in the safety area, with its tail section blocking the northern runway. Firefighters responded to the scene. The left main landing gear appeared to be more heavily damaged, and the aircraft remained standing on a taxiway near the northern runway with rescue crews alongside.
- Flight VN34 departs Terminal 1 and begins takeoff roll on runway 26L
- Aircraft lifts off 120m beyond normal rotation point; dust cloud, possible tailstrike, runway lighting damaged
- Pilot decides to return to Munich instead of continuing to Hanoi
- Aircraft circles over Erdinger Moos and Upper Bavaria dumping fuel
- Two low passes over runway 26R for visual inspection of landing gear
- Landing on 26R; smoke from left main gear, tire debris; aircraft immobilized on runway
Aftermath and investigation
The northern runway remained closed as of the latest reports, with specialists working to recover the Boeing. Flights planned for that runway were diverted to the southern runway, and an airport spokesperson said delays were limited. A representative of the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) was called in to investigate. The cause of the late takeoff and the damage to the tires and landing gear remains unclear. Passengers exited the aircraft on the apron and were taken by bus back to the terminal building. No injuries were reported.
