Investigators probe labored Vietnam Airlines 787-9 takeoff in Munich
Photo: Adam Moreira (AEMoreira042281) / CC BY-SA 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · source
German aviation authorities are investigating a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 that experienced an abnormally long takeoff roll out of Munich Airport on August 15. Operating a flight to Hanoi, the twinjet reportedly utilized the entire length of the 4,000-meter runway before kicking up dust upon rotation and subsequently holding for two hours before returning to land. Unverified images suggest significant tail strike and tire damage. For flight crews, this underscores the critical importance of accurate performance calculations and vigilance during the rotation phase of heavy departures.
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The incident involving Vietnam Airlines flight VN34 highlights a scenario that all transport-category pilots train for but hope to never encounter: a heavy aircraft reluctant to fly as the runway end rapidly approaches. Departing Munich Runway 26L, which offers a generous 4,000 meters of available distance, the ten-year-old Boeing 787-9 required an unusually long ground roll before lifting off. Following the rotation, the crew spent approximately two hours in a holding pattern, executing three approaches to the parallel runway before safely touching down. While the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) is currently reviewing the sequence of events, early visual evidence points to potential tire failures and substantial fuselage scraping associated with a severe tail strike. For aspiring airline pilots and current flight instructors, this occurrence serves as a compelling case study in takeoff performance management. It brings into focus the cascading effects of potential data entry errors, erroneous weight and balance calculations, or delayed rotation execution. A tail strike on a stretched airframe like the 787-9 is a known operational risk, particularly when departing near maximum takeoff weight or when compensating for degraded acceleration. Moving forward, the industry will be watching the BFU interim report to understand the root cause. Investigators will likely pull the digital flight data recorder to compare the crew calculated V-speeds against the aircraft actual weight, thrust settings, and pitch rate. Until those findings are published, this event remains a stark reminder to always cross-check performance data and maintain strict pitch discipline during rotation.