Boeing 787 Strikes Runway During Munich Takeoff, Narrowly Averting Disaster

Munich Airport narrowly avoided a major catastrophe when a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 struck the runway during takeoff. Aviation expert Heinrich Großbongardt warned that the incident could have led to "a ball of flames resulting in hundreds of deaths" if pilots had not managed to lift the aircraft at the last second.

The "Boeing 787" was taking off from the south end of Munich Airport when the incident occurred. Videos showed dense dust clouds and vibrations within the cabin. According to Aviation Herald, the aircraft's right-side brakes were partially stuck before takeoff. The reduced takeoff speed caused the rear of the plane to hit the ground, sustaining significant damage.

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It could have led to a ball of flames resulting in hundreds of deaths, had the pilots not managed to lift the aircraft at the last moment.

When the plane later landed on the north runway, tires on the landing gear tore. Fortunately, all passengers were safely transferred to the terminal by bus without injury. Großbongardt, who previously served as Boeing's spokesperson in Germany, emphasized that the incident does not cast doubt on the safety of the Dreamliner model, calling it "a completely safe passenger aircraft."

The German Federal Bureau of Aviation Accident Investigation will now work to clarify the exact sequence of events. Investigators will examine flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders to understand what happened in the cockpit, a process that is expected to take several months. Key questions include why the crew did not abort the takeoff in time, despite the 4,000-meter runway offering ample safety margins.

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787 is a completely safe passenger aircraft.