Boeing's 737 MAX Software Glitch Sparks FAA Review

Boeing has discovered a software glitch in certain versions of the flight management computer (FMC) on its 737 MAX aircraft, which can cause automatic vertical navigation (VNAV) to disconnect after a go-around and route modification. This issue affects versions 14 and 14.1 of the FMC software.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened a formal safety review and warned that it will take immediate action if a safety concern is identified. Boeing maintains that there is no immediate risk, but pilots may experience increased workload in critical phases of flight.

Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have already rejected new aircraft with the affected software versions and requested earlier versions. The FAA's review will determine whether the loss of VNAV in this scenario constitutes an unsafe condition or a manageable operational inconvenience.