A Lufthansa passenger plane carrying 351 passengers from San Francisco International Airport crashed into approach lights as it attempted to land at Munich International Airport on August 18, 2026. The incident occurred just days after a Vietnam Airlines flight struck the same runway.
Details of the Lufthansa incident
It is believed the pilots landed short of the runway threshold and were lower to the ground on their approach, ploughing through the lights. No injuries have been reported from the flight.
Vietnam Airlines flight incident
A Vietnam Airlines flight, carrying 271 passengers, crashed on the same runway on Saturday. The tail of the aircraft struck the runway and lost tyre pressure as it tried to take off to Hanoi. The plane had to circle Munich for two hours to burn fuel before it was able to land and be towed back to the gate. It is believed the Vietnam Airlines flight rotated too late, striking its tail on the ground.
Passenger account and investigation
Speaking to Dan Tri, a passenger named Mr Ninh described the incident: 'The nose of the plane lifted off the runway, and passengers heard a rather loud “pop” sound. Everyone looked at each other curiously, wondering what had happened. Inside the cabin, everyone started to panic. Looking through the window, I saw fuel being continuously released from both doors, and I was terrified.' The flight's crew ordered everyone to get into the brace position. Mr Ninh added: 'In the seat next to me, a couple was praying continuously, and the wife was crying. At that moment, I didn’t have time to think; I quickly grabbed my small backpack, passport, and phone. When the plane landed safely, everyone in the cabin applauded, thanking the pilot and the flight crew for calmly handling the situation. After those tense moments, all the passengers were overwhelmed with emotion. Many hugged each other, breathing a sigh of relief.'
Germany’s BFU accident investigation department has confirmed they are looking into the incidents. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said: 'After takeoff, warnings were triggered indicating contact between the aircraft’s tail and the runway and low tyre pressure. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam is currently liaising with the German investigation authority to coordinate efforts and request the prompt provision of information regarding the incident and the investigation process.'
