Vietnam Airlines is dealing with a serious incident involving a Boeing 787-9 on flight VN34 from Munich to Hanoi after the aircraft lifted off extremely late from Munich Airport on Saturday. The long-haul jet later returned to the airport, where damage was found on the tyres and landing gear, and the northern runway was temporarily closed while operations were disrupted.
Multiple reports indicate the aircraft reached the end of runway 26L, or nearly so, before becoming airborne. After departure, the crew levelled off and circled over the Munich area for about 90 minutes to burn fuel before landing back at Munich. No injuries were reported, and passengers were taken to the terminal by bus.
The aircraft was unable to taxi away normally after landing, leaving it in the runway area and forcing further disruption as cleanup and repairs continued into the night. German investigators were involved, underlining the seriousness of the event, while the exact trigger remains unconfirmed. Coverage points to a late rotation and possible runway-lighting impact, but the final technical cause has not been established.