A possible braking malfunction has emerged as one potential explanation for a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 that struggled to accelerate, struck its tail during takeoff and ran beyond the end of a runway while departing from Munich Airport (MUC) in Germany.
Flight VN34 was taking off from Munich bound for Hanoi on August 15, 2026, when the crew noticed an abnormal change in acceleration during the takeoff roll, according to preliminary information released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
The pilots reported that the aircraft stopped accelerating for about two seconds while roughly halfway down Runway 26L. The 787 then began accelerating again and reached V1, the takeoff decision speed, before the crew noticed another decrease in speed.
With insufficient runway remaining to reject the takeoff, the pilots advanced the thrust levers to maximum and continued. The pilot flying began rotating with only about 300 feet of runway remaining, according to the preliminary report.
Photos and video from the scene show long tire skid marks extending toward the departure end of the runway and beyond the pavement. The marks raise the possibility that abnormal braking may have contributed to the aircraft’s loss of acceleration.
There has been no official determination that a brake malfunction occurred or that the tire marks were caused by a malfunction. However, the marks, combined with the crew’s report that the aircraft stopped accelerating and later lost speed, raise questions about whether the braking system played a role.
The 787 uses electrically actuated wheel brakes. Data recovered from the aircraft’s flight data recorder should help investigators determine what caused the abnormal acceleration during the takeoff roll. Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has secured both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and taken them to Braunschweig for analysis.
After becoming airborne, the crew received warnings indicating a tail strike and abnormal tire pressure. The pilots informed air traffic control and elected to return to Munich.
Because the aircraft was carrying fuel for the long-haul flight to Hanoi, the crew dumped fuel before returning to the airport. The 787 landed on Runway 26R about two hours after takeoff.
Four of the aircraft’s eight main landing gear tires lost pressure. An inspection also found damage to the underside of the aft fuselage consistent with the tail strike. Video taken by airport personnel immediately after the incident show long skids marks on the departure end of the runway.
The aircraft involved was VN-A867. It was carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members. No injuries were reported. The aircraft’s takeoff weight was about 240 metric tons, below the 787-9’s maximum takeoff weight of 247.2 metric tons. Weather conditions were reported as good.
The BFU is leading the investigation. Investigators are analyzing the recorders, with an interim report expected in the coming weeks.