A preliminary report has revealed new details about Vietnam Airlines flight VN34, which faced serious problems during takeoff from Munich on August 15. The Boeing 787-9 reportedly stopped gaining speed for around two seconds before accelerating again.
The pilots later noticed the speed dropping again but decided there was not enough runway left to stop safely. With only about 91 metres of runway remaining, the captain rotated the aircraft. The 787 became airborne but suffered a tail strike and damaged approach lights. Four tyres later lost pressure.
The crew returned to Munich after dumping fuel and making low passes for a landing-gear check. The aircraft landed safely, and all 271 passengers and 16 crew members were safe. Investigators are now examining the flight recorders to determine the actual cause.
