Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Narrowly Avoids Disaster During Munich Airport Takeoff

A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Hanoi narrowly avoided a major accident on Saturday afternoon at Munich Airport after rolling past the end of the runway before finally lifting off. Video footage from planespotters shows the aircraft overshooting the approximately 4,000 meter runway and kicking up clouds of dust. During the takeoff process, the tail of the plane struck the ground and was severely damaged, and the aircraft also damaged the airfield lighting system. After taking off, the crew reported a drop in tire pressure and the need to dump fuel. The plane flew in loops over the Munich area for nearly two hours, dumping approximately 60 tons of kerosene before returning to the airport. Upon landing, the aircraft suffered further damage to its wheels and remained blocked on the runway, requiring the airport operator to close that section for some time. Vietnam Airlines stated that the crew followed all procedures and that all passengers and crew are safe.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation. Some reports, including data from the Aviation Herald, suggest that brakes on the right side of the aircraft were activated about 200 meters before the end of the runway. Some aviation experts suggest the incident may have been caused by an error in entering the aircraft weight into the onboard computer. While a center-right source focused on the technical failures and potential pilot error, a center-left source highlighted the environmental concerns regarding the dumping of 60 tons of kerosene. This center-left report noted a disagreement between the German Environment Agency, which claims such fuel dumps at high altitudes have no critical impact, and nature conservationists who argue that any negative impact is being downplayed.