The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a software glitch in some
that could prompt an automated flight guidance system to disengage during an aborted landing, commonly referred to as a go-around.
uncertain
that → investigate → around
In rare circumstances where there is a missed approach — and where a pilot is using a precision approach with autopilot engaged and makes changes to their pre-programmed flight plan — an issue with the flight management computer could cause the plane's vertical navigation system, known as VNAV, to disengage and transition to a less sophisticated level of automated pitch control.
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system → be → control
The VNAV is essentially designed to automatically maintain the pre-planned altitude at various waypoints along a flight path.
asserted
VNAV → design → path
If this glitch occurs, however, pilots will need to take additional steps during their subsequent approach.
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pilots → occur → approach
The scenario would typically occur in a low-altitude airport adjacent environment where pilots already have a high workload.
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pilots → occur → workload
"How busy do you want your crew to be?" one airline source told CBS News about the glitch.
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source → want → glitch
"Are you introducing distractions at the worst possible moment?"
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you → introduce → moment
"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," a Boeing spokesperson told CBS News in a statement.
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spokesperson → inform → statement
"We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases.
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that → share → cases
Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue."
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engineers → work → issue
The Boeing spokesperson said that even if VNAV disengages, autopilot will continue to function, adding that all pilots are trained to safely land without VNAV.
In a bulletin sent to airlines late last month, Boeing told operators the glitch is not an immediate safety issue.
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glitch → say → operators
It surfaced in versions 14 and 14.1 of the operating system for the Max's flight management computer.
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It → surface → computer
"The FAA is aware of a potential issue in a software update for the flight computers on certain Boeing 737 MAX airplanes and is working closely with Boeing and the airlines," the FAA told CBS News in a statement.
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FAA → work → statement
"The FAA will convene a Corrective Action Review Board (CARB) and will take immediate action if it identifies a safety concern."
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have informed Boeing they will not accept delivery of new aircraft with that operating system, instead opting for a previous version.
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they → convene → version
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest and United told CBS News none of their in-service 737 Max fleets use the software version in question.
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none → tell → question
CBS News has learned Boeing was first told of the issue by an airline in November 2024.
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Boeing → learn → November
The company reviewed it and determined in February 2025 that it was not a safety issue.
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it → review → February
However, Boeing received what a source described as "additional information from operators" earlier this year that prompted the manufacturer to launch a formal safety review board.
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that → receive → board
The board's findings were sent to the FAA this month and will be reviewed by CARB.
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findings → send → CARB
Boeing's initial bulletin told airlines a software fix would be ready sometime in 2028 and it would issue updated guidance about procedures for pilots to follow in November.
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pilots → tell → November
The company is working to accelerate both of those efforts.
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company → work → efforts
The FAA review could further delay the certification of the 737 Max 10, the fourth and largest variant of the Max.
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review → delay → Max
The Max 10 was thought to be days away from achieving FAA certification, but years behind schedule.
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Max → think → schedule
The issue could also delay deliveries of the recently certified 737 Max 7.
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issue → delay → Max
Nearly the entire order book for that aircraft is going to Southwest.
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book → go → Southwest
The plane has been the subject of
in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people due to defective software, and it experienced a mid-flight door panel blowout in January 2024 that was blamed on manufacturing mistakes.
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that → kill → mistakes
It is notable that several U.S. airlines appear to be taking a trust-but-verify approach to Boeing on the issue, having been stung by groundings and delays due to previous Boeing mistakes on the Max.
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airlines → appear → Max
The Max 7 was certified with software version 14, while the Max 10 was using version 14.1 during its certification testing.
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Max → certify → testing
Southwest was set to start receiving Max 7 deliveries this fall.
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Southwest → set → deliveries
It is unclear if the airline will take delivery at this time, while Alaska Airlines is supposed to be the launch customer for the Max 10.
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Airlines → take → Max
The software glitch was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
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glitch → report → Journal
CBS News has also reached out to Allegiant Air for comment, which also operates the 737 Max.
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which → reach → Max
The Aporia
