A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9, flight VN34, struggled during its takeoff from Munich Airport (MUC) on August 15, 2026, bound for Hanoi. Preliminary reports from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) indicate that the aircraft, carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members, experienced an abnormal change in acceleration twice during its takeoff roll on Runway 26L. The aircraft's speed reportedly stopped increasing for approximately two seconds while halfway down the runway, then accelerated to V1 (takeoff decision speed), before experiencing a second decrease in speed. Photos and videos from the scene show long tire skid marks extending beyond the runway, suggesting a possible braking malfunction, though no official determination has been made.
With insufficient runway remaining to reject the takeoff after the second speed decrease, the pilots advanced the thrust levers to maximum power and continued the takeoff. The pilot flying initiated rotation with only about 300 feet (91 meters) of runway left, leading to a tail strike as the aircraft became airborne. Shortly after liftoff, warnings indicated a tail strike and abnormal tire pressure. The crew informed air traffic control and opted to return to Munich. The aircraft, weighing about 240 metric tons (below its maximum takeoff weight of 247.2 metric tons), had to dump fuel for approximately an hour to reduce its landing weight before making a safe landing on Runway 26R, about two hours after its initial departure.
Upon inspection after landing, four of the aircraft's eight main landing gear tires (three on the left side and one on the right) were found to have burst. Additionally, damage consistent with a tail strike, including longitudinal scrape marks and torn outer skin, was observed on the underside of the aft fuselage. The aircraft, registered as VN-A867, could not taxi under its own power, leading to a temporary closure of runway 26L. Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) is leading the probe, and both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been secured for analysis in Braunschweig to determine the cause of the acceleration issues during takeoff.
