Boeing 787-9 Error During Take-off, Carrying 271 Passengers
A Boeing 787-9 aircraft owned by Vietnam Airlines reportedly experienced a serious incident during take-off from Munich Airport, Germany. Preliminary investigation data indicates that the aircraft’s braking system became active before the plane overran the runway.
Quoting Reuters on Tuesday (29/09/2026), a preliminary report from the German Federal Bureau for Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) found several instances of brake activation while the aircraft was accelerating for take-off on 15 August 2026. The aircraft, flying the route from Munich to Hanoi, was carrying 271 passengers, 12 cabin crew, and four pilots.
Flight recorder data shows movement of the brake pedal on the left side of the aircraft, followed by the activation of the braking system shortly after the aircraft began moving on the runway. A second braking activation was also recorded a short time before the aircraft reached rotation speed.
However, investigators have not yet confirmed whether the braking was due to pilot action or a technical malfunction within the aircraft’s systems. Although the aircraft sustained significant damage after overrunning the runway, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Departure from Grassy Area
The BFU report stated that the aircraft’s speed reached approximately 168 knots (around 311 km/h) for 18 seconds during the take-off process. Following this, engine power was increased by the co-pilot in the right seat before the aircraft finally lifted off.
The aircraft then took off from a grassy area beyond the end of the runway, passing through the clearway. The tail section and both main wheels struck the airport’s approach lighting system.
The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft. Once airborne, the pilot-in-command took control.
The crew subsequently jettisoned approximately 62 tonnes of fuel before returning to Munich Airport and performing a safe landing about two hours later. Post-landing inspections revealed that four tyres on the left main gear had been damaged.
Investigation Ongoing
The BFU stated that several components related to the braking system and other parts of the aircraft have been secured for further examination. Investigators are also facing limitations because the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was unavailable for the period of the take-off.
The recording had been overwritten by new data, as the device only stores conversations for two hours. To date, no final conclusion has been reached regarding the cause of the incident.
Aviation experts noted that air accidents typically occur due to a combination of factors, meaning the investigation process could take more than a year before final results are announced. Vietnam Airlines has not yet commented on the preliminary report.