Boeing identifies 737 MAX software glitch

Boeing has identified a software glitch on its 737 MAX that could switch off some automated flight guidance for pilots in certain circumstances, the plane-maker said Saturday. 

The company informed 737 MAX operators about the issue last month and notified the Federal Aviation Administration. It is working with the FAA on developing a software update to address the concern. 

The FAA said Saturday it is aware of the software issue and is studying whether it poses a safety risk.

The regulator plans to convene a group of safety experts, known as a Corrective Action Review Board, to determine if there is a safety concern and the best way to address it.

The software glitch occurs when a pilot alters their preprogrammed flight path, according to Boeing. It can cause the aircraft to switch from vertical navigation mode to a simpler level of automation, meaning pilots need to manually perform extra steps for landing on the next approach.

Pilots are trained to safely land an airplane without automated vertical navigation, Boeing said. When the company notified operators of the software concern, it shared information that “reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases,” a spokesperson said. 

As part of its fix, Boeing is working with airlines on a procedure that allows pilots to reenable automated vertical navigation if the glitch occurs. 

The software issue appears to only affect the latest version of the flight management computer’s software. Boeing expects to roll out a new version in 2028 but is now working to accelerate that timeline. 

Not all airlines flying the 737 MAX use that version of the software, so some operators will not be impacted by the issue.

Alaska Airlines said Saturday it is aware of the software issue and does not operate any MAX planes with the affected version. 

“We have been engaged with Boeing and the FAA and will continue to work closely with both as they evaluate this matter and determine next steps,” a spokesperson for the airline said. 

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the software issue, citing a company document Boeing sent to operators in August.  

It’s not clear if the issue will impact future 737 MAX deliveries or pending regulatory certification of Boeing’s long-delayed MAX 10. But the software issue could pose another problem for the MAX, Boeing’s most popular but troubled aircraft.  

A separate issue on the MAX led to two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. Investigators determined that a faulty software system on the then-new MAX, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, had repeatedly forced the plane’s nose down in both instances, leaving pilots unable to control the aircraft.