Interim report: Multiple brake activation when a Dreamliner took off in Munich

In its first interim report, the federal agency responsible for accidents and incidents in civil aviation comes to the conclusion that the brakes were activated several times during the take-off process of the US manufacturer's model known as the Dreamliner. However, the question still remains open as to whether the pilots actively operated them or whether there was a technical defect.

It is certain that Munich Airport and in particular the passengers and crew narrowly escaped a catastrophe this Saturday. At around 2 p.m. local time, the aircraft taxis from Terminal 1 onto runway 26L, receives take-off clearance and accelerates onto the runway. Videos from so-called plane spotters finally show how the machine shoots over the approximately four kilometer long runway, kicking up dust before it can just take off from the green meadow.

The report by the Federal Aircraft Accident Investigation Board shows that the aircraft's brakes were applied several times during the take-off process; among other things “during the further take-off run”. Tire tracks that had previously appeared “at approximately the level of the junction with taxiway B4” are also documented. The preliminary investigation does not reveal why the braking was triggered.

During the delayed take-off process, "about 240 meters behind the runway threshold 08 R in the grass area", the tail and tires of both main landing gear of the Dreamliner collided with the so-called approach lights, the optical beacon system in front of take-off and landing runways. The aircraft was badly damaged.

A further flight to Vietnam was therefore no longer possible. The cockpit sent a radio message at around 2:16 p.m. local time: “...is a technical problem, we expect to dump fuel...”. There is a technical problem and fuel probably needs to be drained, according to the embassy.

The pilots then began a nearly two-hour flight over the greater Munich area, flying over Eggenfelden, Wasserburg am Inn, Herrsching and the state capital in several loops. Meanwhile, the crew began dumping about 62 tons of jet fuel to lighten the plane for landing. After two flights over the airport, the Dreamliner was finally able to land back in Munich.

After landing, it was discovered that the Dreamliner's fuselage suffered significant damage during takeoff. Four tires were also damaged. No passengers or crew members were injured.

Editor's note: In the first version of the article it was not clear that the time in the report was UTC, i.e. Universal Time Coordinated. The local time in Munich is UTC plus two hours.