TLDR
- US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he sees no safety concern from a 737 MAX software issue.
- Boeing shares moved down about 1% following the news cycle on the issue.
- Boeing disclosed Saturday that a software problem could block automated flight guidance during certain go-around landings.
- The FAA delayed certification of the long-delayed 737 MAX 10 until the issue is fixed.
- President Trump separately praised the 737 MAX after a Flydubai jet survived an attempted crash by its co-pilot.
Boeing (BA) stock dipped nearly 1% as questions swirled around a software issue tied to its 737 MAX fleet. The move came after US officials weighed in on whether the problem poses a safety risk.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters in Washington on Wednesday that he does not currently see a safety concern. He compared the fix to a routine smartphone update.
“If there was like, ‘Hey we’ve got a safety issue,’ we have a different response,” Duffy said. He added that the Department of Transportation saw no need to ground the 737 MAX fleet.
Duffy also noted the risks of moving too slowly on potential problems. “We’ve learned when you don’t respond quickly to things, bad things can happen,” he said.
What Boeing Disclosed
The issue first surfaced on Saturday when Boeing said certain 737 MAX jets had a software glitch. The problem could prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario.
Boeing said it informed airline operators right away. The company is now developing a software update meant to permanently fix the issue.
The FAA later clarified the scenario in more detail. It said the software version can increase pilot workload during a go-around, when a pilot aborts a landing, applies power, and climbs back up to try again.
On Monday, the FAA said it would hold off certifying Boeing’s long-delayed 737 MAX 10 until the software problem gets resolved. That model has already faced years of delays before reaching airline fleets.
The agency also said it plans to convene a Corrective Action Review Board to look into the matter. Officials said that review may not happen until next week at the earliest.
A Separate Boeing Headline
Boeing also found itself in the news for a different reason this week. A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was involved in an attempted crash by its co-pilot on Tuesday.
Israeli officials said passengers and crew managed to foil the attempt. The jet had dropped nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before control was regained.
The plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. No injuries were reported from the incident.
President Trump praised the 737 MAX model afterward, though he did not directly reference the Flydubai event. He credited the aircraft for its ability to “withstand G Forces and Strain far beyond what it was designed and expected to do.”
Trump also praised Boeing and its CEO, Kelly Ortberg, in his comments. He did not address the software issue currently under FAA review.
For now, the 737 MAX keeps flying without any grounding order. Duffy’s comments suggest regulators are treating the software fix as a standard update rather than an emergency measure.
The FAA’s review board will determine next steps once it convenes. Until then, Boeing continues developing the permanent software patch it promised operators over the weekend.
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