Vietnam Airlines faced a serious departure incident at Munich Airport on 15 August when flight VN34, operated by a Boeing 787-9 registered VN-A867, rotated very late on takeoff for Hanoi, overran the end of runway 26L and became airborne only after leaving the paved surface. The aircraft later returned to Munich after a fuel-burn holding pattern and landed safely, with no injuries reported.
Munich Airport closed the north runway after the jet landed and was unable to taxi off under its own power, disrupting operations at the major European hub. The departure sequence has been linked to damage consistent with a tail strike and possible runway-light strikes, while the precise trigger remains under investigation. Photographic accounts indicate the aircraft lifted off about 120 metres beyond the runway end, in the grass near the first row of approach lights.
Vietnam Airlines confirmed that the crew followed procedures and that passengers and cabin crew were safe. The incident has drawn attention because it involved a long-haul widebody departure, a runway excursion at a busy international airport and a subsequent runway closure with knock-on traffic effects.