FAA Investigates Boeing 737 Max Software Glitch Linked to Landing Issues
FAA probes Boeing 737 Max software glitch causing flight guidance issues during landings. Airlines delay deliveries as safety review continues.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration is examining a software issue in select Boeing 737 Max aircraft that could cause an automated flight guidance system to shut down during a go-around, a maneuver used when a landing is aborted.
The problem arises when pilots are using autopilot for a precision approach and make adjustments to their pre-programmed flight plan. In such cases, the plane’s vertical navigation (VNAV) system may disengage, switching to a less advanced level of automated pitch control.
VNAV is designed to maintain the planned altitude throughout a flight path, but if it fails, pilots must take additional steps during subsequent approaches. This scenario is more likely at low-altitude airports where pilot workloads are already high. Boeing stated that even if VNAV disengages, the autopilot will still function, and all pilots are trained to land safely without it.
Boeing issued a notice to airlines last month, stating the glitch does not pose an immediate safety risk. It affects versions 14 and 14.1 of the Max’s flight management computer software. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have decided not to accept new aircraft with these versions, opting instead for an earlier software release.
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A source indicated that Boeing received additional information from operators earlier this year, prompting the company to form a formal safety review board. Its findings were sent to the FAA this month and will also be reviewed by CARB. Initially, Boeing said a software fix would be ready in 2028, with updated pilot procedures expected in November. However, the company is now working to speed up both efforts.
The FAA’s review could further delay the certification of the 737 Max 10, the largest variant of the Max. Once seen as close to final approval, the aircraft has been significantly delayed. The issue could also affect deliveries of the recently certified 737 Max 7, which has nearly all its orders going to Southwest Airlines.
The 737 Max has been a key revenue generator for Boeing, central to its recovery after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 involving defective software, and a mid-flight door panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight in January 2024 due to manufacturing errors.
Several U.S. airlines are adopting a cautious stance toward Boeing, reflecting past frustrations with delays and grounding related to the Max. The Max 7 was certified with software version 14, while the Max 10 used version 14.1 during testing. Southwest was scheduled to begin receiving Max 7 deliveries this fall, though it remains unclear if it will proceed at this time. Alaska Airlines is set to be the launch customer for the Max 10.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
