New Boeing 737 MAX software glitch sparks FAA safety review, causes certification delays

Boeing’s push to bring the final two 737 MAX variants into commercial service faces another potential setback after a software issue was found that can increase pilot workload during a specific missed-approach scenario.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now reviewing the problem and plans to convene a Corrective Action Review Board to determine whether it represents a flight-safety concern. The review comes just as Boeing appeared to be approaching certification of the 737 MAX 10 while preparing to begin deliveries of the recently certified MAX 7.

The issue affects versions 14 and 14.1 of the software used by the 737 MAX flight management computer. Major US airlines including Alaska, American, Southwest and United have said their aircraft currently in service do not use the affected versions. Southwest and United have also told Boeing they will not accept new aircraft equipped with the software, instead opting for an earlier version.

Software problem emerges during a missed approach

The problem involves the aircraft’s vertical navigation system (VNAV), which helps automatically manage altitude along a programmed flight path. Under a specific sequence of events, the issue can occur when pilots perform a go-around from a precision approach with the autopilot engaged and then modify the flight path programmed into the flight management computer. VNAV can disengage, leaving the aircraft with a lower level of automated pitch control.

The autopilot remains available, and Boeing says pilots are trained to fly the aircraft safely without VNAV. However, the loss of the automated function can increase the crew’s workload at a particularly demanding point in a flight, when the aircraft is close to the ground, and the crew is already managing a missed landing.

Boeing informed 737 operators about the problem last month and issued guidance reinforcing existing procedures for handling the situation. The company is also working on a permanent software fix, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The issue was first reported to Boeing by an airline in November 2024. The company initially concluded in February 2025 that it did not constitute a safety issue, but additional information from operators later prompted Boeing to conduct a formal safety review.

MAX 7 and MAX 10 caught in the review

The affected software is connected to both of Boeing’s newest MAX variants. The FAA certified the 737 MAX 7 in August with software version 14 installed. Southwest is expected to be its main early customer, but the airline has said it will not accept aircraft equipped with the affected software version.

The larger MAX 10 used version 14.1 during certification testing. Boeing claimed that the aircraft had completed its flight-test program and was in the final documentation stage of the certification process.

The MAX 10 is the largest member of the 737 family and is important to Boeing’s effort to address a large backlog of narrowbody orders. Any additional certification work could therefore create further complications for the program, which has already experienced years of delays.

The FAA has further added that it will assess the software issue and take immediate action if the review identifies a safety concern. Boeing initially expected the permanent software correction to be ready in 2028, although the company is now working to accelerate the timetable.