FAA Clears Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch Despite Concerns from Major Carriers

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that a software glitch in certain Boeing 737 MAX flight management computers is not a safety concern. The issue, which affects vertical navigation guidance during a go-around, will be addressed through a bulletin to pilots rather than a mandatory fix.

On October 2, the FAA's Corrective Action Review Board concluded that the problem did not pose an unacceptable risk. Boeing had previously disclosed the issue on September 26, and the FAA had paused certification of the 737 MAX 10 as a result.

The software glitch causes vertical navigation guidance to become unavailable during a go-around if pilots reprogram the flight path. However, this does not affect pilot control or safety, according to the FAA. United Airlines and Southwest Airlines have stated that they will not accept aircraft with the flawed software until it is updated.