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Boeing has discovered a new software glitch on its 737 MAX that can disable an automated navigation feature after a missed approach — potentially requiring pilots to fly manually without some autopilot functions at a particularly busy moment, according to a report.
The problem stems from an update to cockpit software and can occur when pilots change their planned flight path after aborting a landing attempt, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
In certain circumstances, some autopilot functions can become unavailable, leaving pilots to fly manually at low altitude — potentially while dealing with bad weather or other challenging conditions, according to the report.
Boeing told airlines in late August that it did not consider the glitch a safety risk, the Journal reported.
“We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases,” Boeing said in a statement cited by the Journal.
“Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue.”
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the glitch and could take action if it determines the problem poses a safety risk, according to a senior agency official cited by the Journal.
The issue has already raised concerns among some of Boeing’s biggest US customers.
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have told Boeing they don’t want new MAX jets equipped with the affected software and have asked for an earlier version instead, according to the report.
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest and United said none of their MAX jets are currently flying with the affected software.
Boeing said airlines can return to an older software version, the Journal reported.
Boeing does not yet know exactly how many MAX aircraft have the newer software because airlines are not required to notify the company when they install an upgrade.
There are 2,422 MAX 8 and MAX 9 jets flying worldwide, according to aviation-data firm Cirium, as cited by the Journal.
The glitch could become another setback for Boeing as it tries to put years of 737 MAX safety problems behind it.
Two 737 MAX crashes — Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019 — killed a combined 346 people.
Those disasters involved MCAS, a Boeing flight-control system that could automatically push the plane’s nose down after receiving erroneous angle-of-attack data.
The crashes led regulators around the world to ground the MAX. The FAA did not clear the jet to return to US service until November 2020, after requiring software, cockpit-procedure, training and other changes.
Boeing shares have fallen roughly 39% since the first MAX crash on Oct. 29, 2018, sliding from $324.59 at the close that day to about $198 as of Friday.
The MAX came under renewed scrutiny in January 2024 after a door plug separated from an Alaska Airlines 737-9 shortly after takeoff.
Federal investigators later determined that four bolts designed to keep the plug in place had not been installed after factory work on the aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board blamed inadequate Boeing training, guidance and oversight for the failure and also cited ineffective FAA surveillance as a contributing factor.
After that incident, the FAA grounded 171 MAX 9 planes, stepped up inspections at Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and blocked Boeing from expanding MAX production while the company worked on quality-control improvements.
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