Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 took off from Germany’s Munich airport with just about 91 metres of runway remaining after its speed dropped twice during the takeoff roll, according to a preliminary report by Vietnam’s aviation authority. The aircraft later returned safely to Munich airport after a tense two-hour ordeal in which it dumped fuel, circled at around 9,000 feet and suffered four burst tyres and tail-strike damage.
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The Hanoi-bound flight, VN34, had taken off from Munich around 1:45 pm (local time) on August 15. The plane was carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members, who were all safe, according to Vietnamese state media. Earlier, Vietnam Airlines had said the flight had returned because of a “technical issue”.
Viral videos of the incident show the Boeing 787-9 accelerating for an unusually long distance before lifting off close to the end of the runway, with a large cloud of dust trailing behind it. One video also appears to capture loud tyre noise shortly before or during liftoff, while footage from the aircraft’s return shows heavy smoke around the left main landing gear as the plane touched down.
The dramatic footage and the preliminary findings have shed new light on the moments leading up to the aircraft’s return to Munich, with investigators now examining why its speed stopped increasing twice during the takeoff roll.
WHAT DID THE CREW OBSERVE?
Shortly after becoming airborne, the Boeing 787-9 triggered warnings indicating a possible tail strike and low tyre pressure. The crew informed air traffic control and decided to return to Munich. According to Vietnamese state media, the four Vietnamese pilots had a combined 63,938 flight hours, including 19,675 hours on the Boeing 787.
A preliminary report by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) stated that the aircraft had already experienced an unusual loss of speed during its takeoff roll.
The crew noticed that the aircraft’s speed stopped increasing for around two seconds when it was about halfway down runway 26L. The aircraft then accelerated again and reached V1, the decision speed at which pilots must decide whether to continue or abort the takeoff.
Shortly afterwards, however, the crew observed another drop in speed.
The pilots determined that there was no longer enough runway to safely abort the takeoff. They continued the departure, pushing the engine thrust levers to maximum. With only about 91 metres of runway remaining, the pilot raised the aircraft’s nose and the Boeing 787 became airborne.
FUEL DUMPED BEFORE LANDING, PASSENGERS NARRATE ORDEAL
After takeoff, the aircraft climbed to around 9,000 feet before the crew began dumping fuel to reduce its weight for the return to Munich. The aircraft circled near the airport for more than an hour, with passengers watching fuel being jettisoned from both wings.
Passenger Nguyen Ninh, who was travelling from Munich to his hometown of Da Nang via Hanoi, recalled that the takeoff roll appeared unusually long. He said he heard a loud noise just as the aircraft’s nose lifted from the runway, Vietnamese state media reported.
After the captain announced that the aircraft had developed a technical problem and would need to return, the mood inside the cabin changed.
Ninh said he watched the aircraft’s icon repeatedly circle near Munich on the flight screen while fuel was dumped. Despite the anxiety, passengers remained calm.
As the aircraft prepared to land, cabin crew instructed passengers to adopt the brace position. The Boeing 787 then made two low-altitude circuits around the airport, allowing air traffic controllers to visually inspect its landing gear.
The aircraft eventually landed safely on runway 26R at 3:57 pm local time, around two hours after departure.
FOUR TYRES BURST, TAIL STRUCK RUNWAY
A preliminary inspection found that four of the aircraft’s eight main landing-gear tyres had burst – three on the left side and one on the right, according to Vietnamese state media.
Inspectors also found longitudinal scrape marks on the underside of the rear fuselage and several areas where the aircraft’s outer skin had been torn, indicating that the tail had struck the runway during takeoff. Ground crews found no signs of fire or smoke.
All 271 passengers and 16 crew members were safe, and no injuries were reported.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 registered as VN-A867, remains grounded at Munich airport for further technical assessment.
The August 15 incident also disrupted operations at the airport. The aircraft could not taxi away from the north runway under its own power after landing, forcing the runway to be closed temporarily and traffic to be rerouted through the south runway.
GERMANY AVIATION BODY LAUNCHES PROBE
Germany’s air accident investigation bureau, the BFU, is leading the probe under international aviation rules.
The aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been recovered and taken to the BFU’s headquarters in Braunschweig for examination. Investigators are expected to focus on why the aircraft’s takeoff roll was unusually long and why its speed dropped during the departure.
Vietnam’s CAAV is coordinating with German authorities and assisting with the investigation. Vietnam Airlines has also been asked to work with German investigators, the aircraft manufacturer and engine manufacturer to determine the cause.
The CAAV has stressed that its findings remain preliminary.
Vietnam Airlines has arranged alternative travel for affected passengers on its own and other airlines’ flights, while providing accommodation, meals and ground transportation for those awaiting replacement flights.
– Ends
(with inputs from Reuters)
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
