A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 aircraft experienced an abnormal change in acceleration and a tail strike during its takeoff roll from Munich Airport (MUC) in Germany on August 15, 2026. According to preliminary information released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), Flight VN34 was departing from Munich bound for Hanoi when the flight crew noticed speed fluctuations during the takeoff attempt.
The pilots reported that while approximately halfway down Runway 26L, the aircraft ceased accelerating for about two seconds before resuming acceleration. Upon reaching V1, the takeoff decision speed, the crew observed a second decrease in speed. With insufficient runway distance remaining to safely abort the departure, the crew advanced the thrust levers to maximum power and continued, initiating rotation with only about 300 feet of runway remaining.
After getting airborne, the crew received automated alerts indicating a tail strike and abnormal tire pressure. Because the widebody aircraft was carrying a heavy fuel load intended for the long-haul flight to Hanoi, the pilots executed a fuel dump over designated airspace before electing to return to Munich Airport . The aircraft landed safely on Runway 26R approximately two hours after takeoff.
A post-flight inspection confirmed that four of the eight main landing gear tires had lost pressure, alongside structural damage to the underside of the aft fuselage consistent with a tail strike. Scene imagery revealed long tire skid marks extending toward and beyond the departure end of the runway. The aircraft, registered as VN-A867, was carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members, with no injuries reported. Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has secured the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder for technical analysis in Braunschweig.
