Vietnam Airlines faced a serious operational disruption on Saturday when a Boeing 787-9 flying from Munich to Hanoi returned to its departure airport damaged after a takeoff incident. The aircraft, operating as flight VN34, reportedly rotated very late on the runway at Munich Airport, suffered a tail strike and runway overrun, and later landed back in Munich with no injuries reported.
The incident forced the airport to close the affected north runway while inspections and recovery work were carried out. Reports indicated the aircraft burned fuel for more than two hours before making low approaches for visual checks and landing safely. After touchdown, it could not vacate the runway under its own power and required handling on the ground.
The aircraft appears to have sustained damage to the tail and landing gear, with further reports pointing to tyre damage and possible runway-light damage. Initial airline messaging referred only to a technical issue, while later coverage added detail from airport and aviation-safety sources. The exact cause has not yet been officially established.