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Boeing flags 737 Max software glitch affecting landing navigation feature, WSJ reports

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The Straits Times. (2026, September 26). Boeing flags 737 Max software glitch affecting landing navigation feature, WSJ reports. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/boeing-flags-737-max-software-glitch-affecting-landing-navigation-feature-wsj-reports

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

The Straits Times · collected 2026-09-26 · by The Straits Times

Quick Summary

Boeing has identified a software glitch in the 737 Max that could cause an automated navigation feature to fail during landing if pilots change their planned approach after a missed landing attempt. The issue was reported by the Wall Street Journal on September 26 and affects certain cockpit software updates. Boeing informed airlines in August about the problem, advising existing pilot procedures for safe handling until a permanent fix is implemented. Both Boeing and the FAA are working to address the potential safety concern.
Written by AI on 2026-09-26, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

In late August, Boeing discovered a new software glitch on its 737 MAX planes that can disable an automated navigation feature during a missed landing approach. This issue arises when pilots change their flight path after aborting a landing attempt due to a cockpit software update. In certain scenarios, the plane's vertical navigation system (VNAV) disengages, leaving pilots without some autopilot functions at low altitude and potentially in challenging conditions like bad weather.

Boeing informed airlines that it does not consider this glitch a safety risk but is working on a permanent fix. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the issue and could take action if it poses a safety concern. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have opted to accept aircraft with an earlier version of the software, refusing new planes until the problem is resolved.

This incident follows previous scandals involving the 737 MAX, including two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which led to a worldwide grounding. The recent glitch has raised concerns about pilot workload during critical moments when manual control might be necessary.

Written for “Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Boeing 737 MAX Software Glitch
Technology · 5 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 25% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Boeing scrambles to fix new 737 MAX software glitch that can knock out autopilot functions after missed landing Same event
New York Post
Hedges 5 of 19 claims Outlet record 66/100
Terrifying glitch discovered on notorious Boeing 737 MAX causing potentially catastrophic issues during aborted landings Same event
Daily Mail
Hedges 7 of 25 claims Outlet record 69/100
FAA investigates software glitch in some Boeing 737 Max jets Same event
CBS News
Hedges 6 of 32 claims Outlet record 66/100
Boeing finds software glitch in automated flight guidance system of MAX planes Same event
The Hindu
Hedges 3 of 11 claims Outlet record 60/100
FAA delays Boeing 737 MAX 10 approval due to software glitch Different event
CBS News
Hedges 1 of 3 claims Outlet record 66/100
“While both articles mention a software issue with the 737 Max, ARTICLE A refers to a landing navigation feature glitch affecting all operators informed in August, whereas ARTICLE B discusses an FAA delay in approving the MAX 10 due to a separate software glitch that could cause a flight control system to shut off unexpectedly.”
US aviation authority delays Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification over software issue Different event
The Straits Times
Hedges 3 of 19 claims Outlet record 66/100
“Article A reports on a specific software glitch affecting the landing navigation feature of the 737 Max, while Article B discusses the FAA delaying certification for the 737 MAX 10 due to a software issue. Although related, they describe different occurrences.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
12
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
25%
3 of 12 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
66/100
The Straits Times's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
5
Technology
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-26 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

The Straits Times · 4253 article(s) · 5 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 5 correction(s)
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Who wrote this

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Topics

737 Max Boeing FAA Reuters WSJ

Subjects

Boeing ORG · 9× FAA ORG · 2× Reuters ORG · 2× WSJ ORG · 2× Alaska Airlines ORG · 1× Southwest Airlines ORG · 1× The Federal Aviation Administration ORG · 1× WASHINGTON GPE · 1× a Corrective Action Review Board ORG · 1× the Wall Street Journal ORG · 1×

Narrative

Boeing has been under intense regulatory and safety scrutiny in recent years following two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft, and after a mid-air cabin panel blowout on a nearly new Alaska Airlines Max 9.
framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-26
🔮 Boeing has identified a previously undisclosed 737 Max software glitch that could cause an automated navigation feature to fail during landing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sept 26, citing company documents.
2026-09-26 · The Straits Times
Boeing flags 737 Max software glitch affecting landing navigation feature, WSJ reports · mixed framing

Claims (12 extracted, 3 hedged)

Boeing flags 737 Max software glitch affecting landing navigation feature, WSJ reports AI generated asserted
WSJ → flag → feature
Boeing has identified a previously undisclosed 737 Max software glitch that could cause an automated navigation feature to fail during landing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sept 26, citing company documents. uncertain
Journal → identify → documents
The issue emerged from a cockpit software update and can occur when flight crews alter their planned flight path after a missed approach, the report said. asserted
report → emerge → approach
When reached for comment, Boeing said it informed all 737 operators in August about the software issue under which pilots may not have access to automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario. uncertain
pilots → reach → scenario
“We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases. asserted
that → share → cases
Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue,” Boeing said in an emailed statement to Reuters. asserted
Boeing → work → Reuters
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of a potential issue in a software update for the flight computers on certain Boeing 737 Max planes and was working closely with Boeing and the airlines. asserted
it → say → Boeing
“The FAA will convene a Corrective Action Review Board and will take immediate action if it identifies a safety concern,” the FAA said in a statement. asserted
FAA → convene → statement
Boeing has been under intense regulatory and safety scrutiny in recent years following two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft, and after a mid-air cabin panel blowout on a nearly new Alaska Airlines Max 9. asserted
that → follow → Max
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 Max aircraft equipped with the affected software and instead requested an earlier version, according to WSJ. uncertain
Airlines → ask → WSJ
It was not immediately clear how many aircraft are operating with the flawed software, the report said. asserted
report → operate → software
Boeing, airlines and regulators are assessing the issue and whether it poses a flight-safety concern, it added. asserted
it → assess → concern
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