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Pilots’ Association Warns Against Hasty Conclusions After Vietnam Airlines Incident in Munich
Munich, October 2 – The Pilots’ Association ‘Cockpit’ has issued a warning against drawing premature conclusions from the interim report concerning the Dreamliner incident at Munich Airport. This comes after a Boeing 787-9 operated by Vietnam Airlines experienced difficulties during takeoff in mid-August, prompting a preliminary report from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) that has unveiled new details. A particular detail continues to baffle investigators.
BFU Finds Brake Actuation During Takeoff Run in Flight Data Recorder
As previously reported, the incident occurred on August 15 on the southern runway of Munich Airport. Flight VN34 was scheduled to transport approximately 270 passengers from Munich to Hanoi. The Dreamliner initially accelerated but lifted off unusually late, extending beyond the regular end of Munich’s approximately four-kilometer-long runway. The aircraft only left the ground in the subsequent grassy area, resulting in damage to the tail and the main landing gear wheels, as well as 20 approach lighting lamps on the runway.
According to the now-evaluated flight recorder data, brake pedals on the left pilot’s seat were actuated during the takeoff run. The BFU reported that the flight recorder registered a brief braking activity shortly after the start of the takeoff run, followed by another braking event later. This apparently prevented the Boeing from accelerating sufficiently. The data indicates that the aircraft did not significantly exceed 168 knots for an extended period.
Shortly before liftoff, the pilot on the right side increased engine power – at which point the aircraft was already at the end of the runway. Tire marks extended beyond the so-called clearway, ending approximately 240 meters behind the runway’s end in the grass. The tail and main landing gear struck the runway lights during this maneuver.
Pilots’ Association Reacts to New Details in Munich Air Accident
The BFU has not yet been able to determine why the brakes were activated during takeoff. The interim report suggests both crew input and a technical problem with the aircraft as possibilities. Investigators are also examining a combination of factors. To this end, components of the electrical braking system have been secured for detailed examination. A conclusive result is not yet available.
Consequently, the Pilots’ Association Cockpit has warned against drawing premature conclusions from the report. According to Sebastian Kloth, head of the Accident Analysis & Prevention working group at the Pilots’ Association Cockpit, the data released so far does not indicate whether a technical defect, an unintentional input in the cockpit, or multiple factors caused the incident. “The interim report shows anomalies, but it does not yet provide a conclusive explanation for how they arose,” Kloth stated. He emphasized that it is crucial to understand not only that the braking system registered an input but also how this input occurred and why the aircraft did not accelerate further for an extended period during the takeoff run. “18 seconds is a significant period during a takeoff run. We need to understand what technically happened during this phase, what information was available to the crew, and how the situation was perceived in the cockpit,” Kloth added.
Dreamliner Malfunction: Pilots Return to Munich After Takeoff Maneuver
Following the unusual takeoff, the pilots decided to return to Munich. As the aircraft was initially too heavy for a safe landing, the crew dumped fuel. Subsequently, the Boeing landed on the airport’s other runway. Further damage to the tires was discovered after landing. The aircraft was then unable to taxi off the runway under its own power. Fortunately, passengers and crew remained unharmed. Experts subsequently described the incident as a “near-catastrophe” that could have resulted in “hundreds of fatalities.”
A unique challenge complicates the investigation: a voice recording from the cockpit for the crucial phase of takeoff is no longer available to the BFU. The corresponding voice recorder only stores the last two hours. Because the Dreamliner was in the air for more than two hours after takeoff before returning to Munich, the takeoff recording was overwritten. However, the flight data could be evaluated.
Source: https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/bayern/-115389837
