Munich Airport experienced a series of serious runway incidents over a span of two days, highlighting potential safety concerns at the hub. On the evening of 17 August 2026, a Lufthansa Airbus A380 arriving from San Francisco overshot the runway and damaged the approach lighting, though all 351 onboard were unharmed and disembarked safely. This followed an earlier event on 15 August, involving a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 that suffered a tail strike and runway overrun while departing Munich on the same runway.
The Airbus A380, flight LH459 from San Francisco, touched down short of Runway 26L, damaging the threshold approach lighting. Investigators from Germany's BFU secured the flight data and cockpit voice recorders but have not yet determined the reasons for the early touchdown, which could stem from weather conditions or other factors. Notably, the airline company's spokesperson affirmed the aircraft landed safely, with no injuries.
Two days earlier, the Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9, flight VN34, nearly lost control during takeoff due to delayed acceleration, striking its tail and running off the runway end before lifting off. The crew declared an emergency, and despite the damage, all passengers and crew survived the incident. The events have prompted investigations to understand whether they indicate a pattern or are mere coincidence, and to identify potential safety improvements at Munich.
Experts note that the incidents involved different mechanical issues—one a hard landing, the other a late rotation. Nonetheless, both occurrences on the same runway within a short period highlight operational risks needing assessment to maintain safety standards at this major European hub.
