Once again, the Boeing 737 Max finds itself at the intersection of technological ambition and the unforgiving demands of flight safety, as the FAA opens an investigation into a software flaw that could strip pilots of automated guidance at the most demanding moment of a landing gone wrong. Discovered quietly in late 2024 and initially set aside, the glitch in the flight management computer has resurfaced through the persistent voices of airline operators, prompting a formal reckoning. For a company still rebuilding trust after two fatal crashes and a manufacturing scandal, the question is not
FAA investigates Boeing 737 Max software glitch affecting automated landing systems
How busy do you want your crew to be at the worst possible moment?
Mark
So the software glitch—does it actually cause crashes, or is this more about workload management?
Mimi
It doesn't cause a crash by itself. The system disengages, pilots have to take over, and they're trained to do that. But the timing is brutal—you're already busy, altitude is low, and suddenly you lose automated help.
Luke
Right, and Boeing says autopilot still works. So what exactly is VNAV doing that autopilot isn't?
Mimi
VNAV is more precise. It maintains specific altitudes at specific waypoints. When it drops out, pilots get a cruder mode that just controls pitch. It works, but it requires more active management.
Mark
When did Boeing know about this?
Mimi
November 2024. They looked at it, said it wasn't a safety issue. Then in early 2025, airlines gave them more information that made them reconsider.
Luke
So they changed their mind because of new data, not because the problem got worse?
Mimi
Exactly. The glitch itself didn't change. The understanding of it did.
Mark
And now the FAA is investigating. What does that mean for deliveries?
Mimi
The Max 7 was supposed to start shipping this fall. The Max 10 was days from certification. Both could be delayed.
Luke
But we don't know how long the investigation takes, or whether it'll actually find a safety issue that requires a fix before delivery?
Mimi
No. Boeing says the fix won't be ready until 2028, but they're trying to speed that up. The FAA hasn't said whether that timeline is acceptable.
Mark
Why are airlines refusing the new software?
Mimi
They've been burned before. Two crashes, a door blowout. They're not taking Boeing's word anymore. They want the older version they know works.
Luke
Which is smart, but it also means Boeing can't move forward with the new software until the FAA clears it. That's a real bottleneck.
The Pulse
- A flaw in the 737 Max's flight management software can silently cut off vertical navigation during go-arounds — precisely when pilots are already stretched thin and altitude margins are razor-thin.
- Boeing knew about the glitch in November 2024 but initially waved it off as non-critical, a judgment that operator complaints have since forced the company to revisit.
- Airlines are not waiting for reassurances: Southwest and United have refused to accept new aircraft carrying the affected software, demanding older versions instead.
- The FAA has convened a Corrective Action Review Board, and a software fix once penciled in for 2028 is now being urgently accelerated alongside updated pilot procedures due in November.
- The investigation threatens to stall certification of the 737 Max 10 and delay deliveries of the Max 7 — two milestones Boeing desperately needs to sustain its fragile financial recovery.
Once again, the Boeing 737 Max finds itself at the intersection of technological ambition and the unforgiving demands of flight safety, as the FAA opens an investigation into a software flaw that could strip pilots of automated guidance at the most demanding moment of a landing gone wrong. Discovered quietly in late 2024 and initially set aside, the glitch in the flight management computer has resurfaced through the persistent voices of airline operators, prompting a formal reckoning. For a company still rebuilding trust after two fatal crashes and a manufacturing scandal, the question is not merely technical — it is whether Boeing can demonstrate that its systems, and its judgment, are once again worthy of confidence.
The FAA is investigating a software flaw in certain Boeing 737 Max aircraft that could disable a critical automated system at the worst possible moment — during a go-around, when a pilot aborts a landing and must immediately manage a complex, high-pressure climb. The problem resides in flight management computer software versions 14 and 14.1. When a pilot initiates a go-around using autopilot and the pre-programmed flight plan is altered, the plane's vertical navigation system — VNAV — can unexpectedly drop out. Without it, the autopilot falls back to a less capable mode, forcing pilots to take additional manual steps at low altitude, under pressure. As one airline source put it: "Are you introducing distractions at the worst possible moment?"
Boeing first learned of the issue from an operator in November 2024 and concluded by February 2025 that it posed no immediate safety risk. But further operator feedback changed that assessment. Boeing convened a formal safety review board and submitted its findings to the FAA this month. The agency will now examine the issue through its own Corrective Action Review Board. Boeing maintains that the autopilot continues to function even if VNAV disengages, and that pilots are trained to land without it — but the company is nonetheless accelerating a software fix and plans to issue updated procedures in November, well ahead of a previously scheduled 2028 patch.
The timing is painful for Boeing. The 737 Max has been the company's financial backbone, but it carries a scarred history — two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people due to defective software, and a door panel blowout in January 2024 exposed manufacturing failures. Airlines have responded to the new glitch with skepticism: Southwest and United have told Boeing they will not accept aircraft with the affected software, preferring an older version. Alaska, American, Southwest, and United all confirmed their active fleets are not running the problematic versions.
The investigation now casts a shadow over two certification milestones Boeing urgently needs. The 737 Max 10, the family's largest variant, was believed to be days from FAA approval after years of delays. The recently certified Max 7, which runs the affected software, could face delivery holdups — Southwest, its primary customer, had been set to begin receiving aircraft this fall. Whether those deliveries proceed remains uncertain. For Boeing, the episode is another reminder that airlines are no longer willing to take the manufacturer's word on safety — and that rebuilding trust, like fixing software, takes longer than anyone plans for.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a software problem in certain Boeing 737 Max aircraft that could shut down a key automated system precisely when pilots are most vulnerable—during an aborted landing, when workload is already high and margin for error is thin.
The issue lives in the flight management computer, specifically in software versions 14 and 14.1. When a pilot initiates a go-around after a missed approach—and is using autopilot with a pre-programmed flight plan that gets altered—the plane's vertical navigation system, known as VNAV, can unexpectedly disengage. VNAV is designed to automatically maintain the altitude the flight plan calls for at various points along the route. If it drops out, the autopilot reverts to a less capable mode of pitch control, and pilots must take additional manual steps to complete their approach. This scenario typically unfolds at low-altitude airports where crews are already managing multiple demands. "How busy do you want your crew to be?" one airline source asked CBS News. "Are you introducing distractions at the worst possible moment?"
Boeing first learned of the glitch in November 2024 from an airline operator. The company reviewed it and concluded in February 2025 that it posed no immediate safety risk. But additional feedback from operators earlier this year changed the calculus. Boeing launched a formal safety review board, whose findings were submitted to the FAA this month. The agency said it will convene a Corrective Action Review Board to examine the issue and take immediate action if a safety concern emerges. Boeing stated that even if VNAV disengages, the autopilot continues to function, and that all pilots receive training to land safely without it. The company is developing a software fix originally scheduled for 2028 and plans to issue updated pilot procedures in November, though it is now working to accelerate both efforts.
The timing creates complications for Boeing's already fragile recovery. The 737 Max has been a financial lifeline for the company, but it carries a heavy history. Two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people and were traced to defective software. In January 2024, a mid-flight door panel blowout occurred due to manufacturing errors. These incidents have left airlines wary. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have told Boeing they will not accept new aircraft equipped with the affected software versions, opting instead for an earlier iteration. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest, and United all confirmed to CBS News that none of their active 737 Max fleets currently use the problematic software.
The investigation threatens to further delay two critical certification milestones. The 737 Max 10, the largest variant in the family, was thought to be days away from FAA approval after years of postponement. The recently certified 737 Max 7, which uses the affected software version 14, could also face delivery delays. Southwest was positioned to begin receiving Max 7 aircraft this fall and is the primary customer for that model. Alaska Airlines is slated to be the launch customer for the Max 10. Whether either airline will proceed with deliveries remains unclear. The uncertainty underscores how previous missteps have eroded confidence: airlines are now taking a verify-before-trusting stance with Boeing, insisting on older software rather than accepting the manufacturer's assurances about newer versions. For a company betting its turnaround on Max production and delivery, the investigation represents another unexpected obstacle in a program already marked by setbacks and lost time.
Notable Quotes
How busy do you want your crew to be? Are you introducing distractions at the worst possible moment?— Airline source to CBS News
Last month, we informed all 737 operators about a software issue where pilots may not have access to automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario. Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue.— Boeing spokesperson
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