Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch Delays Approval
Boeing is facing a new certification setback after a Boeing 737 MAX software glitch raised concerns about an automated navigation function during a specific landing scenario. The issue is now under review by the Federal Aviation Administration, potentially complicating Boeing’s effort to secure final approval for the 737-10, the largest and final member of the 737 MAX family.
The software problem involves the aircraft’s flight management computer and can occur after a missed approach when pilots subsequently modify the aircraft’s programmed flight path. Under the circumstances described by Boeing, an automated vertical navigation function known as VNAV can disengage, leaving crews with less sophisticated automated pitch control or requiring additional manual procedures.
Boeing has told operators that the problem does not represent an immediate safety concern. However, the Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing the matter and has said it will take action if the agency identifies a safety issue.
The timing creates a significant complication for Boeing. The company has spent years working toward certification of the 737-10 and had recently indicated that regulatory approval was close.
Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch Comes at Critical Time
The Boeing 737 MAX software glitch surfaced as the manufacturer was preparing for two important milestones.
The first is the introduction of the recently certified 737-7. The FAA approved the MAX 7 in August following an extensive certification process that included reviews of flight controls, system safety, human factors and other safety-critical systems. The agency also required updates to flight-control software, crew alerting systems and the engine anti-ice system before certification.
The second milestone is the certification of the 737-10.
Boeing has been working toward approval of the stretched MAX variant for years. On September 16, Boeing Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg said the company had completed flight testing for the 737-10 and was focused on the remaining documentation needed for FAA certification.
At that point, Ortberg described certification as coming “very soon.”
The newly reviewed software issue changes the situation because regulators must now determine whether the affected software requires additional corrective work before certification can proceed.
What the Software Problem Does
The issue is connected to the aircraft’s flight management computer and automated navigation functions.
According to reporting on the problem, the glitch can emerge during a particular sequence involving a missed approach. A missed approach, sometimes called a go-around, occurs when a pilot decides not to complete a landing and instructs the aircraft to climb away from the runway.
In the scenario under review, the autopilot can be engaged during a precision approach. If the crew then changes the programmed flight path after initiating a go-around, the software can cause the aircraft’s VNAV function to disengage.
VNAV, or vertical navigation, helps manage an aircraft’s vertical flight path. Losing that function does not mean the airplane becomes uncontrollable, but it can reduce the level of automated assistance available to the pilots.
The FAA has confirmed that it is aware of a potential issue involving software updates on certain 737 MAX airplanes and is working with Boeing and airlines to evaluate it. The agency has said it will convene a Corrective Action Review Board as part of the process.
Boeing, meanwhile, has said it informed operators about the issue and reinforced existing procedures for handling the situation safely.
The company is also developing a permanent software update.
Airlines Ask Boeing to Use Earlier Software
The software issue has already affected discussions between Boeing and some of its largest airline customers.
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft with the affected software version. Instead, the airlines have requested aircraft equipped with an earlier software version while Boeing works on a permanent correction.
That distinction is important because the issue does not appear to affect every 737 MAX aircraft currently flying.
Several airlines have indicated that their existing fleets do not use the software versions associated with the problem. The concern is therefore particularly relevant to new aircraft being delivered with the newer software.
The development nevertheless creates another layer of complexity for Boeing as it attempts to increase production and stabilize deliveries.
FAA Review Could Affect 737-10 Certification
The FAA’s review is particularly important for the 737-10 because certification requires regulators to establish that the aircraft and its systems meet applicable safety requirements.
Boeing cannot simply proceed on the basis that the software issue is unlikely to create an immediate safety problem. Any software change connected to a certification configuration can require additional engineering analysis, testing or documentation.
That could make the timing of the 737-10 approval less predictable.
Boeing has already completed certification flight testing for the 737-10, according to its second-quarter update, and said it expected certification in 2026. The company also expects the first deliveries of the 737-10 to take place in 2027.
The company’s September update showed that it remained focused on completing the documentation phase with the FAA.
The software problem now gives regulators another issue to evaluate before the final certification process can be completed.
Boeing Is Working on a Permanent Fix
Boeing has said its engineers are developing a software update to permanently address the problem.
In the meantime, the company has communicated procedures to operators intended to help pilots manage the specific situation if it occurs.
The company has also said it informed 737 operators about the issue in August. According to reporting based on company documents, Boeing had previously determined that the issue did not meet the threshold for a safety review, although additional airline feedback prompted further examination.
That history makes the FAA review particularly significant.
Rather than simply evaluating a routine software correction, regulators are examining how the issue was identified, how the system behaves under the relevant conditions and whether additional action is required before affected aircraft configurations can move forward.
The FAA has emphasized that it will take immediate action if its review identifies a safety concern.
Why the 737-10 Matters to Boeing
The 737-10 is an important aircraft for Boeing because it occupies the largest position in the 737 MAX family.
The airplane is designed to carry more passengers than the smaller MAX variants and compete in a segment where airlines need additional capacity without moving to a larger widebody aircraft.
Boeing has accumulated substantial demand across the 737 MAX program. The company’s second-quarter results showed a commercial-aircraft backlog of more than 6,200 airplanes, with the 737 program continuing its transition toward a production rate of 47 aircraft per month.
The 737-10 is therefore not simply another aircraft awaiting regulatory approval. Its certification is connected to Boeing’s ability to deliver a major product variant to customers that have planned fleet purchases around the airplane.
Boeing has also continued securing new orders for the broader MAX family. In September, Turkish Airlines finalized an order for up to 150 737 MAX aircraft, including substitution rights involving the 737-10.
A New Challenge After Years of MAX Scrutiny
The latest software issue comes after years of intense regulatory scrutiny surrounding the 737 MAX program.
The FAA has significantly increased its oversight of Boeing following the two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 and subsequent manufacturing and quality-control concerns.
In July 2026, the FAA said it had completed months of additional review and allowed Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for newly produced 737 MAX and 787 aircraft under FAA oversight. The agency said the decision followed eight months of data showing consistent production quality.
The agency has also continued emphasizing direct surveillance of Boeing’s manufacturing processes and safety-management systems.
That regulatory environment means software problems connected to new aircraft configurations are likely to receive close examination.
For Boeing, the challenge is balancing the need to deliver new aircraft and introduce new models with the requirement to demonstrate that software changes are thoroughly tested and properly documented.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus is now on the FAA’s review and Boeing’s corrective work.
Boeing is expected to continue developing the permanent software fix while working with airlines and regulators. The FAA will determine whether the problem requires additional corrective action, testing or changes before affected aircraft configurations can proceed through certification.
The exact effect on the 737-10 certification schedule will depend on the outcome of that review.
The issue also illustrates how modern commercial aircraft certification increasingly depends on software as much as traditional mechanical systems. A relatively narrow software condition can affect certification schedules when it involves flight guidance or other safety-related functions.
For Boeing, the priority is now to resolve the software issue without creating additional disruption to the 737 MAX production and certification program.
The company had been approaching the final stage of the 737-10 certification process after completing flight testing. The newly identified software problem means that final approval now faces another regulatory hurdle.
Boeing says the issue can be handled using established pilot procedures and that engineers are working on a permanent software update. The FAA, however, will make the final determination about whether additional action is necessary.
Until that review is complete, the timeline for the 737-10 remains subject to change.
For Boeing, the next phase will depend not only on fixing the software but also on demonstrating to regulators that the correction has been fully tested, properly documented and suitable for certification.
That makes the FAA review the key factor to watch as Boeing works to bring the final 737 MAX variant into commercial service.
