Investigators detail Boeing near miss at Munich Airport

Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation has released initial details of a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 incident at Munich Airport, BR reported. The aircraft took off late on Saturday, and its tail struck the runway during rotation.

The aircraft began its takeoff from runway 26L at 1:57 p.m. Investigators also identified tyre marks at the end of the runway that could be linked to the aircraft.

The Boeing eventually landed on runway 26R at Munich Airport at 3:58 p.m. Smoke was visible from the landing gear and tyres had burst, but the roughly 270 passengers and crew members were not injured.

Experts from the Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation are examining the aircraft’s flight recorders in Braunschweig. The authority said reading and analysing the data would take some time. Investigators from Vietnam and the United States, where Boeing is based, are also involved.

The cause of the near accident remains unclear. The investigation will examine human and technical factors, as well as organisational influences. Vietnam Airlines said shortly after the incident that it was caused by a technical problem.

The authority said its investigation was intended to help prevent similar accidents and incidents. It is not intended to determine blame, liability or claims.