US Airlines Turn Down Boeing's New MAX Nav Software Over Glitch

Two major US airlines, Southwest and United, have asked Boeing to deliver new 737 MAX jets with older cockpit software to avoid a navigation glitch under federal investigation.

The affected software versions, U.14 and U.14.1, were introduced last year and feature an automated vertical-navigation function called VNAV that can disengage during specific sequences.

Boeing has confirmed it is working on a permanent update with GE Aerospace, but the FAA has not yet made a final determination on whether the issue constitutes a safety-of-flight concern.

The airlines have emphasized that their request is a configuration preference and not a safety declaration, but the decision highlights concerns about Boeing's software quality control amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny.