Boeing identified a 737 MAX software bug that can fail automated navigation during landing approaches, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
Originating from recent software updates, the defect can force manual pilot control following missed approaches. Regulators and airlines are evaluating potential flight risks. Boeing informed operators in August that the issue posed no safety threat, internal records viewed by The Wall Street Journal show, although it could, according to some in the industry, result in pilots being overworked if they have other issues to deal with such as weather.
Determining the exact number of active aircraft carrying the affected code remains difficult, though global fleet data from flight-information company Cirium shows 2,422 units of the 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 currently operate worldwide without an obligation for carriers to notify Boeing of software upgrades they carry out.
Major US airlines, including United, Southwest, Delta, and American, confirmed their operational fleets do not use the impacted software version.
This narrow-body plane, the newest version of Boeing's most popular passenger jet and a key source of revenue for the company, was grounded for almost two years following two fatal crashes. These incidents triggered rigorous scrutiny that postponed FAA approval for newer iterations of the aircraft, although the company's criminal case was ultimately dismissed.
The FAA launched an official investigation into the issue. The defect adds pressure on Boeing as it works to rebuild regulatory and public trust. Previous fatal crashes caused a two-year grounding and delayed regulatory approvals for the bestseller.
Southwest faces potential fleet delays for its pending MAX 7 deliveries next year. Federal rules require compliance with certified designs, prompting airline coordination with the FAA.
Regulators warned MAX 10 certification could be affected if the flaw poses an unsafe condition. Boeing launched a formal safety review this month after reviewing operator feedback from November 2024. Company timelines target a permanent software fix by early 2028. Reassuring passengers, Canadian carrier WestJet said: "This is not considered a safety issue, we have standard operating procedures and training to mitigate this type of event."
Developer GE Aerospace, which is behind the code's creation, is assisting the FAA review. The flaw once again puts safety oversight at the forefront following earlier 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Those previous disasters stemmed from a faulty MCAS flight system that repeatedly forced aircraft downward beyond flight crew control, prompting regulators and Boeing to subsequently revamp flight-control safeguards and pilot training protocols.
