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A flaw discovered in the software of some Boeing 737 Max jets has sparked safety concerns regarding the planes’ navigation feature.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a software glitch that could prompt an automated flight guidance system to disengage during an aborted landing, otherwise referred to as a “go-around.”
The Wall Street Journal detailed that in the rare times of a missed approach, “and where a pilot is using a precision approach with autopilot engaged and makes changes to their pre-programmed flight plan,” the possible defect with the flight management computer “could cause the plane’s vertical navigation system, known as VNAV, to disengage and transition to a less sophisticated level of automated pitch control.”
If the software does malfunction, pilots would need to fly manually without autopilot — a cause for concern from top aviation officials over burned out crew members.
“How busy do you want your crew to be?” an unnamed airline source told CBS News about the glitch. “Are you introducing distractions at the worst possible moment?”
The company noted that all pilots are trained to safely land an airplane without the automated vertical navigation systems impacted by the glitch.
The FAA confirmed it is aware of “a potential issue” in a software update for the flight computers on certain Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, is working closely with Boeing and the airlines on the matter, and “will take immediate action if it identifies a safety concern.”
When did Boeing discover the flaw?
Boeing first learned of the glitch from one of its 737 MAX operators in November 2024, but determined it did not immediately fit their criteria for a safety review.
Once it received feedback from airlines, however, Boeing said it launched a formal safety review this month and shared its findings with the FAA and is working with the carriers to expedite a fix.
“We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases,” Boeing added in its statement. “Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue.”
A notice Boeing sent to 737 Max operators last month said it expects to issue more guidance by November and introduce a permanent software fix in early 2028.
United Airlines and Southwest Airlines informed Boeing they will not accept delivery of new aircraft with the flawed operating system, instead opting for a previous version, the WSJ reported, while Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest and United said that none of their 737 Max aircraft use the software version in question.
737 Max planes, some certified, some awaiting certification
The report comes about a month after the 737 Max 7 earned FAA certification, allowing for Boeing to sell the smallest version of its most popular aircraft.
Certification of the planes was delayed following two deadly crashes involving the MAX 8 aircraft that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, according to Reuters .
The company was also put under a microscope following the January 2024 mid-air cabin panel blowout on a new Alaska Airlines Max 9.
The FAA has since changed the way it approves Boeing planes, requiring Boeing to incorporate “key improvements” addressing aircraft certification requirements.
The improvements included updates to the flight-control software, flight crew alerting system and a redesigned engine anti-ice system, with the FAA saying those changes provide pilots clearer information and prevent the engine inlets from overheating.
Boeing is also awaiting certification for the Max 10, the fourth and largest variation in the family. It was thought to be days away from achieving it but is years behind schedule.
The Max 10 represents at least 28% of the company’s outstanding Max orders.
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How many aircraft are affected?
The Max 7 was certified with software version 14, while the Max 10 is using version 14.1 during its certification testing.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many 737 MAX jets are flying with the flawed software.
Boeing said it was working on an accurate count, as airlines are not required to inform the company if they upgrade their software.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, per the WSJ , there are 2,422 of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 and 9 models currently flying around the world.
In Canada, Air Canada and WestJet are believed to both rely heavily on the 737 Max for their routes.
We reached out to both airlines but did not hear back in time for publication.