TLDR
- Boeing found a software glitch on the 737 MAX that can disable automated vertical navigation during a specific landing scenario.
- The issue happens after a missed approach, when pilots change their flight path and the VNAV system disengages.
- Boeing told airlines about the problem in late August, though it first learned of it in November 2024.
- Southwest and United have both asked Boeing to hold off on delivering new 737 MAX jets with the affected software.
- The FAA is reviewing the issue and says it will act if safety concerns are confirmed.
Boeing (BA) stock rose 0.65% following news that the company found a software glitch on its 737 MAX jets. Southwest (LUV) climbed 2.72% and United (UAL) added 2.52% on the same day.
The glitch can disable an automated navigation function during landing. It only shows up in a specific scenario.
That scenario involves a missed approach followed by a change in flight path. When this happens, the plane’s vertical navigation system, or VNAV, can disengage.
Boeing has identified a previously undisclosed 737 MAX software glitch that could cause an automated navigation feature to fail during landing, company documents have shown.
The issue emerged from a cockpit software update and can occur when flight crews alter their planned…
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) September 27, 2026
Pilots would then need to fly manually without some autopilot support. This typically happens at low altitude, a busy phase of flight already.
Boeing’s Timeline on the Issue
Boeing says it first learned of the glitch in November 2024. An internal review in February 2025 found it didn’t meet the threshold for a formal safety review.
That changed after airlines raised concerns. Boeing began a formal review this month and shared its findings with the FAA.
The company notified 737 MAX operators about the issue in late August. It said at the time that the glitch did not pose a safety risk.
Boeing is now working on a permanent software fix. A procedure to help pilots restore the automated function is also in the works.
The fix was originally expected in early 2028. Boeing says it’s now trying to speed that timeline up.
Airline and Regulator Response
Southwest and United have both asked Boeing to hold off on delivering new 737 MAX aircraft with the affected software. They want earlier software versions used instead.
Several other major airlines say their current 737 MAX fleets don’t use the affected version at all. It remains unclear how many aircraft worldwide are running it.
The FAA confirmed it’s investigating. The agency says it’s working closely with Boeing and the airlines involved.
A review board will be convened if the issue is found to raise real safety concerns. The FAA has not yet made that determination.
Boeing, for its part, says its engineers reinforced existing pilot procedures for handling the scenario. It also says a permanent update is in development.
This isn’t the first bump in the road for the 737 MAX program. The jet was grounded worldwide after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 tied to faulty software.
More recently, a 2024 door panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines MAX 9 renewed scrutiny of the plane’s manufacturing.
The current glitch also has knock-on effects for certification. The 737 MAX 10 was reportedly close to getting FAA approval before this review surfaced.
That approval process is now expected to take longer. The MAX 7’s introduction could also be affected by the delay.
For now, Boeing says the fix is a priority. The company has not given a new target date for the permanent software update.
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