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8h ago

Boeing Flags 737 MAX Software Glitch That Can Cut Vertical Navigation

The FAA has opened a formal safety review to determine whether a VNAV failure during specific go‑around sequences requires action that could affect certification or deliveries.

A 737 MAX 10 for WestJet, at the new North Line at the Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington, U.S., July 8, 2026. Jennifer Buchanan/Seattle Times/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo
The second 737 MAX 10 to be manufactured on the new North Line is towed into the Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington, U.S., July 8, 2026. Jennifer Buchanan/Seattle Times/Pool via REUTERS Pool/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo
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Overview

  • Boeing told operators in late August that a flight‑management software fault can disconnect the vertical navigation function (VNAV) after a missed approach when crews change a programmed flight path.
  • The company first learned of the anomaly in November 2024, concluded in February 2025 it did not meet its safety‑review threshold, and opened a formal review this month after additional operator feedback.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration said it will convene a Corrective Action Review Board to assess the issue and will act immediately if it finds a safety concern.
  • Major carriers including Southwest and United have asked Boeing to withhold deliveries of MAX jets fitted with the affected software versions and to revert new aircraft to earlier software.
  • Boeing has issued interim procedures for pilots, is developing a permanent software update with an accelerated timetable, and does not yet know how many in‑service MAX planes run the affected versions because airlines are not required to report installs.