Munich, August 17 – Normal operations have resumed at Munich Airport today, following yesterday’s incident involving a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft experienced an unusually long takeoff before returning for an emergency landing. Investigations are now underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Unusual Takeoff and Emergency Landing
The incident occurred yesterday, Saturday, August 16, when the Vietnam Airlines Dreamliner, bound for Hanoi, took off from Munich Airport. According to various media reports, the takeoff was unusually long, with the aircraft reportedly overshooting the runway before finally lifting off. A dust cloud was observed during the takeoff, and the aircraft subsequently circled for more than two hours to burn fuel before making an emergency landing in Munich.
A passenger quoted by the “Münchner Merkur” described the landing as alarming, stating that everyone in the cabin had to assume the emergency position. “We thought our last hour had come,” the Munich resident was quoted as saying. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crew or passengers.
Aircraft Blocked Runway, Damages Reported
After the emergency landing, the damaged aircraft was unable to move under its own power, blocking the northern runway. This led to numerous delays at Munich Airport. Passengers were transported by bus, and luggage was removed from the plane before it could be towed away. According to an airport spokesperson, the unmaneuverable aircraft was eventually towed away around midnight.
The aircraft is currently in a hangar, awaiting a decision on repairs. Damages to the tires and landing gear have been reported. Following the towing, the runway had to be cleaned due due to tire debris. The northern runway has been fully operational since 7 AM today, with no further restrictions to flight operations.
Investigation by Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has classified the incident as an “aircraft accident” and has launched an investigation to determine why the aircraft took off so late and why the pilot decided to return to Munich. An airport spokesperson confirmed that the incident is being handled by the responsible federal authority.
Speculation is rife regarding the cause of the unusual takeoff. A planespotter video shows the extended takeoff, and the question of why so much dust was stirred up is a key point of inquiry. Flightradar24, a flight tracking website, indicated that the aircraft had overshot the runway during takeoff. This will also be a focus of the investigation.
According to the aviation portal “Aviation Herald,” the aircraft reportedly overshot the runway by 120 meters before lifting off in the grass area, damaging lights behind the runway. It was also reported that the tail of the aircraft touched the ground during takeoff. The airport has not commented on these specifics, referring to the ongoing BFU investigation, but did confirm that “minor damage to the approach lighting was found during an inspection, which was immediately rectified.”
Fuel Dumping Before Landing
Before the emergency landing, the aircraft had to circle for over two hours to burn off fuel. This was necessary because the plane was fully fueled for its flight to Hanoi and would have been too heavy for a safe landing otherwise. Airports have designated “Fuel Dumping Areas” where kerosene can be safely released at a certain altitude.
Videos circulating on social media showed tire parts detaching from the aircraft and significant smoke during the emergency landing. Further images revealed considerable damage to the landing gear. Whether these damages are a direct consequence of the delayed takeoff remains to be determined by the investigation.
Vietnam Airlines Statement
Vietnam Airlines issued a statement confirming that the flight crew acted in accordance with regulations and landed safely. “Passengers and crew members are safe,” the statement read. The airline also announced its own technical investigation into the aircraft.
This incident is another reminder of the complexities and potential risks involved in air travel, even with modern aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The BFU’s findings will be crucial in understanding the full scope of what happened and in implementing any necessary safety improvements.
Source: https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/vietnam-airlines-wie-gefaehrlich-war-der-dreamliner-zwischenfall-in-muenchen,VSSiOse
