Vietnam Airlines 787 Overrun: Preliminary Report Reveals New Clues
A preliminary report from Vietnam's aviation authority has shed light on the dramatic incident involving a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 at Munich Airport.
The incident occurred on August 15, when a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9, registered VN-A867 and operating Flight VN34 from Munich to Hanoi, came perilously close to catastrophe as it struck the ground at the end of the runway during takeoff.
## Acceleration Suddenly Stops During Takeoff
According to the crew's account, the aircraft's acceleration briefly stopped halfway through the takeoff roll, before its speed later decreased again after reaching V1, the calculated decision speed for continuing or rejecting the takeoff. The 787 subsequently resumed accelerating and reached V1, but the pilots then observed another decrease in speed.
The aircraft had a takeoff weight below the 787-9's maximum takeoff weight of 571,500 pounds (259,200 kg). Weather conditions were reported to be good, meaning investigators will need to establish why the aircraft's acceleration did not follow the expected profile.
| Takeoff Weight | Maximum Takeoff Weight | | --- | --- | | Below 571,500 pounds (259,200 kg) | 571,500 pounds (259,200 kg) |
## Crew Continues After V1
The report also offers an explanation for the pilots' decision to continue the departure. Once the aircraft had passed V1 and its speed subsequently began falling, the crew determined that insufficient runway remained to safely reject the takeoff. They therefore selected maximum thrust and continued accelerating toward the runway end.
| Runway Length | Remaining Runway | | --- | --- | | 13,123 feet (4,000 meters) | Approximately 300 feet (91 meters) |
The aircraft eventually became airborne with only about 300 feet of runway remaining. However, it suffered a tail strike during the late rotation, with the rear fuselage contacting the runway surface.
## Tail Strike And Tire Failures Force Return
After becoming airborne, VN34 generated warnings indicating a possible tail strike and abnormal tire pressure. The crew informed air traffic control and elected to return to Munich rather than continue the long-haul flight to Hanoi. Because the aircraft still carried a substantial quantity of fuel, the crew reduced its weight before landing.
The 787 also made low approaches that allowed controllers and ground personnel to visually assess the landing gear before the crew committed to the return. It eventually landed on Runway 26R at approximately 3:57 PM local time, around two hours after departure.
Post-landing inspections found four burst main landing-gear tires, along with scrape marks on the underside of the rear fuselage and damage to sections of the aircraft skin. The aircraft remains grounded in Munich for further technical examination.
The investigation is now being conducted with cooperation between Vietnamese and German authorities, while Vietnam Airlines has been instructed to work with Boeing and other relevant parties. Investigators will need to reconstruct the takeoff using flight-data recordings, cockpit information and the physical evidence from the damaged aircraft.
The preliminary findings do not establish a final cause. Instead, they narrow the mystery to a critical period during the takeoff roll, when the 787's acceleration unexpectedly changed and the crew had to make a high-speed decision with diminishing runway remaining. Further analysis should reveal whether the event originated from a technical malfunction, an unexpected performance issue or another contributing factor.
