A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members experienced a tailstrike on takeoff from Munich Airport on Saturday, August 19, 2026, in what aviation experts described as a "near disaster." The aircraft, bound for Hanoi, stopped accelerating on the runway for approximately two seconds before resuming acceleration, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
The pilots reported the deceleration event approximately halfway down the 26L runway. Despite the issue, the plane reached V1 speed, the point at which a rejected takeoff would be unsafe. With limited runway remaining, the crew initiated liftoff. Footage from the incident shows a cloud of dust rising as the tail of the 250-ton aircraft made contact with the ground.
Air traffic control was alerted after the plane became airborne, and the crew received warnings about tail contact and abnormal tyre pressure. The pilots decided to return to Munich.
Data from FlightRadar24 indicated the Boeing 787 circled the Munich area for nearly two hours, dumping fuel before its return landing. Upon arrival, airport personnel discovered that four of the aircraft's eight main landing gear wheels had lost pressure, with at least two appearing to be torn. Damage was also observed on the underside of the aft fuselage, consistent with a tailstrike.
Investigators from Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation are examining the incident. Tyre marks on the runway have been linked to the aircraft, though officials have not yet determined the cause of the initial deceleration or any potential crew or brake malfunction. German authorities are analyzing the aircraft's black boxes and are expected to issue an interim report in the coming weeks. Retired and active pilots have raised questions about the decision-making process on the flight deck during the event.