Tail strike and tire damage hit Vietnam Airlines 787 in Munich

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 operating a long-haul service from Munich to Hanoi returned to the airport after takeoff following a suspected tail strike and multiple tire problems that left the aircraft visibly damaged and forced temporary disruptions to traffic at the German hub.

Late liftoff from Munich triggers emergency return

Publicly available flight tracking data and photos shared on aviation forums indicate that the incident occurred on 15 August 2026, involving flight VN34 from Munich to Hanoi. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 registered VN-A867, was departing Munich’s southern runway when it appeared to rotate unusually late, using almost the entire available pavement.

Video taken from the terminal side, circulated on social media and enthusiast platforms, shows the widebody accelerating deep into the runway before lifting off with little distance remaining. As the nose raised, a cloud of dust and smoke was seen at the rear of the jet, consistent with the tail contacting the runway surface.

Shortly after becoming airborne, the crew reportedly received onboard tire pressure and gear status alerts, suggesting that part of the landing gear assembly may have contacted equipment or lighting near the end of the runway. The combination of suspected tail contact and tire warnings led to the decision to discontinue the long-haul flight and hold in the vicinity of Munich to burn or dump fuel.

Flight tracking plots show the 787 remaining in a series of racetrack patterns near the Bavarian capital for an extended period, reducing weight to a safer landing level before returning to the airport. The manoeuvring contributed to delays and knock-on effects for other flights in the region.

Fuel dumping, inspection passes and damaged landing gear

Reports from spotters around Munich indicate that the aircraft conducted fuel dumping over designated areas to reach an appropriate landing weight. Observers also described one or more low passes that allowed ground personnel to visually assess the undercarriage and fuselage condition from a distance.

Images taken after the eventual landing show substantial damage to multiple main landing gear tires, with several appearing shredded down to the wheel rims. The appearance of rubber debris and gouging in the runway surface reported by onlookers suggests that the aircraft touched down with already compromised tires, likely linked to whatever occurred at the end of the takeoff roll.

Photos of the tail cone and lower aft fuselage, shared on aviation-focused communities, reveal scraping and deformation consistent with a tail strike. The marks stretch along the underside of the rear fuselage, a pattern typically seen when the aircraft’s tail contacts the ground as pilots apply high pitch to achieve liftoff near the end of a runway.

Munich’s operations were partially disrupted as the aircraft came to a stop and was secured on the runway, leading to diversions and delays. Traffic was later rerouted to the northern runway while the damaged 787 was removed and inspections and cleanup were completed.

Investigation expected into performance and procedures

At this stage, there is no official determination of the root cause, but discussion among pilots and engineers on public forums has focused on several possible factors. These include the possibility of reduced thrust takeoff settings combined with higher weight, environmental conditions or performance calculation discrepancies that left the aircraft with less margin than expected.

Some analysis suggests that the crew may have allowed the aircraft to pass decision speed on the takeoff roll, then found that rotation did not produce the typical rate of lift-off, prompting a more aggressive pitch input near the runway end. Such a scenario can create the conditions for a tail strike, especially on long-fuselage widebody types such as the 787-9.

Any formal inquiry by German or Vietnamese aviation regulators would be expected to review flight data recorder information, load sheets, performance calculations and the condition of the runway and associated equipment. Attention is also likely to focus on whether the landing gear may have impacted runway infrastructure, triggering the initial tire pressure warnings noted after departure.

Until official findings emerge, industry specialists following the case are treating available videos and photos as preliminary clues rather than definitive evidence. The damage pattern to the tires and tail, however, strongly supports the broad sequence being described publicly: an unusually long takeoff run, tail contact, gear-related alerts and a weight-critical emergency return.

Aircraft damage and potential repair prospects

The Boeing 787-9 involved, delivered to Vietnam Airlines as part of its long-haul expansion, now faces an extended period out of service. Similar incidents on other 787s have required highly specialized structural repairs to the composite rear fuselage, typically performed by manufacturer-approved teams at major repair facilities.

Aviation enthusiasts comparing the Munich aircraft’s damage to previous 787 tail strike cases note that even when airframes are ultimately returned to service, repairs can take many months due to the complexity of composite structures and the limited global capacity for such heavy work. The visible scraping and deformation under VN-A867’s tail suggest that detailed structural inspections will be necessary before any repair plan is finalized.

The landing gear and wheel assemblies will also require careful assessment. Shredded tires and possible damage to rims, brakes and associated systems mean that significant components are likely to be replaced. Runway inspections at Munich are expected to check for embedded debris and surface scarring from both the takeoff and the emergency landing.

While there are no public indications of injuries among passengers or crew, the incident represents a serious technical setback for both the airline and the aircraft, reducing available long-haul capacity during the busy summer travel period and drawing renewed attention to high-precision performance planning on heavy departures from European hubs.

Operational impact for Vietnam Airlines and Munich travelers

The disruption from the incident has affected both Vietnam Airlines’ network and passengers traveling through Munich. Flight VN34 to Hanoi was cancelled after the diversion, and subsequent services linking Vietnam with Germany and nearby markets face potential rescheduling or substitution with different aircraft types as the airline adjusts its fleet plan.

Munich Airport experienced temporary runway closures and delays as the 787 was inspected, secured and towed away. Some flights were reportedly diverted to other German airports, while others departed late as controllers balanced reduced runway availability with the evening traffic surge.

For travelers booked on the affected Vietnam Airlines services and connecting itineraries, rebooking and overnight accommodations were handled according to airline and partner policies. Travelers in the region also encountered residual delays as schedules were gradually brought back to normal following the closure of the southern runway.

The Munich event adds to a series of recent technical and ground-handling challenges reported across global carriers operating modern widebody fleets. For passengers, it serves as a reminder that long-haul journeys can be significantly disrupted by a single high-stress takeoff or landing event, even when the ultimate outcome is a safe return to the airport.