On September 26 local time, The Wall Street Journal reported citing company documents that Boeing has discovered a software malfunction in the 737 MAX model that was previously unknown. This malfunction could cause the automatic navigation function to fail during landing.
According to reports, this issue arises from updates to the cockpit software. It may occur when the crew changes the planned flight path after attempting to make a second approach (i.e., giving up landing and trying to land again).
Under the influence of this issue, pilots may not be able to use the automatic flight guidance function in certain landing scenarios. Boeing stated in a response to a comment request from Reuters that it notified all 737 model operators about the software issue last month.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that it is aware of potential issues in the updates to the computer software used in some Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and is working closely with Boeing and various airlines. “The FAA will convene a corrective action review committee, and immediate action will be taken if any safety hazards are identified.”
Boeing 737 MAX 8 Airplane IC Photo
According to The Wall Street Journal, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft equipped with the problematic software, but instead to deliver aircraft equipped with older versions of the software.
Reports suggest that it is still unclear how many aircraft are using this defective software. The report also states that Boeing, airlines, and regulatory agencies are evaluating the issue to determine whether it poses a safety hazard for flights.
In recent years, after several "fatal air disasters" and malfunctions involving passenger jets, Boeing has been under strict regulatory and safety scrutiny.
According to Reuters, the Boeing 737 MAX model was grounded worldwide after two fatal accidents occurred in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, an almost new Boeing MAX 9 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines experienced a door failure during high-altitude flight.
Some Boeing employees have stated that once there are problems during the aircraft assembly process, a lot of work has to be done over again. Boeing's aircraft are sent for repairs every day due to discovered issues. "Replacing seals is as frequent as changing underwear," one employee added. "The aircraft come every day, and there are always problems."
