Passengers aboard a Boeing 787 have described the terrifying moment their aircraft appeared to overshoot the end of a runway before finally lifting off, with the tail apparently striking the ground.

New cabin footage shows Vietnam Airlines Flight VN34 accelerating towards the end of the runway in Munich, Germany, at 1.45pm local time before finally lifting off on its flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday, August 15.

The video appears to show the aircraft crossing the end of Munich Airport’s runway and continuing over marked paved areas before a loud bang is heard and the cabin begins to shake.

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The Boeing 787-9, registered VN-A867, was carrying 287 people, including 271 passengers and 16 crew members, according to Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority.

The aircraft appears to have become airborne about 120 metres beyond the end of the 4000-metre runway, already in the grass and around the first row of approach lights.

Aviation incident reporting website The Aviation Herald said evidence reviewed by investigators suggests the aircraft’s right main-wheel brakes may have activated before the runway ended.

As the Dreamliner finally lifted off, its tail struck the ground, throwing up a huge cloud of dust and debris.

The aircraft then climbed to about 9000 feet before the crew reported a tyre-pressure indication and decided to return to Munich.

Because the aircraft had been fuelled for the long-haul flight to Hanoi, it was too heavy to land safely at that weight and began dumping fuel while circling.

The Vietnam Airlines Dreamliner dumps fuel while circling Munich before returning to the airport for an emergency landing. Credit: Facebook

Tracking data and footage show the aircraft spent more than an hour circling before returning to the airport.

Flightradar24 described the fuel dumping as an emergency procedure used to reduce an aircraft’s weight before an unexpected landing.

For passengers inside the cabin, the ordeal was far from over. One woman travelling with her husband and two daughters told German media they feared they were going to die.

“We thought this was the end of us,” she told Munich-based German daily newspaper Muenchner Tageszeitung.

She said passengers were instructed to remove their shoes and adopt the brace position, putting their heads down and their hands over the backs of their necks as they prepared for the emergency landing.

The aircraft made two low passes over the runway so crews on the ground could inspect the aircraft for damage before it landed.

At about 4pm local time, the Dreamliner came down safely with emergency crews waiting on the runway.

Footage of the PLM Aviation’s plane-spotting livestream how smoke coming from the main landing gear, while several tyres were reportedly destroyed during touchdown.

Debris flies from the Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 as it lands at Munich Airport after suffering damage during takeoff. Credit: PLM Aviation’s livestream

After landing, the aircraft was unable to move under its own power and had to be towed away, with tyre debris left across the runway.

The damaged aircraft remained stranded on the runway for about eight hours, with passengers taken to the terminal by bus.

There were no reported injuries.

The northern runway remained unavailable for several hours while the disabled Dreamliner was removed and debris cleared, disrupting operations at one of Germany’s busiest airports only resuming the following morning.

Images released after the incident show damage to the aircraft’s tail and landing gear, while aviation engineer Fahad Naim has shared photographs showing punctured tyres, damage around the tail and torn fuselage material.

Emergency crews surround the Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 after it returned to Munich Airport following the dramatic takeoff incident. Credit: PLM Aviation’s livestream

Damaged tyres are seen on the Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 after it landed at Munich Airport with passengers disembarking the Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 using a staircase provided by Munich Airport’s fire brigade after the emergency landing. Credit: Facebook

The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, known as the BFU, is investigating the incident after classifying it as an aviation accident.

Munich Airport has confirmed the cause of the unusually long takeoff and the decision to return remain matters for investigators.

Vietnam Airlines has described the incident as a technical problem, saying the flight crew followed procedures and landed safely.

The airline has also arranged alternative travel and support for passengers affected by the incident.

The precise extent and cause of the damage remain under investigation.