The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined on Friday, October 2, 2026, that a software glitch identified in the Boeing 737 MAX fleet does not pose a flight-safety risk. The decision follows a review by the agency’s Corrective Action Review Board (CARB).
The technical issue involves the Vertical Navigation (VNAV) system, which may disengage during a “go-around” or missed approach if pilots manually modify the programmed flight path while at a low altitude. According to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, the glitch is distinct from previous flight control issues because it does not take control away from the pilots. Instead, the system provides clear cockpit indications when VNAV disengages, allowing the crew to maintain manual control of the aircraft’s trajectory.
The affected software, Flight Management System (FMS) versions 14 and 14.1, was supplied by GE Aerospace. While the anomaly was first reported to Boeing by WestJet pilots in 2024, the formal FAA review was necessary to determine if the behavior required a grounding or a hardware fix before further certifications could proceed.
The FAA’s safety clearance is expected to impact delivery schedules for major carriers. Both United Airlines and Southwest Airlines had reportedly refused to accept certain MAX deliveries while the software review was pending. According to Reuters, Boeing is currently developing a permanent software update to resolve the VNAV disengagement, but the FAA’s ruling allows the company to continue deliveries and flight operations in the meantime.
Fleet Operations and Software Update
Boeing is developing a permanent software update to address the issue. The company has indicated it will deploy the fix across the fleet once it is finalized and approved, and the current “non-safety” designation means aircraft can remain in service while the software update is prepared.
