Boeing flags 737 MAX software glitch in landing system

Boeing has identified a software glitch in its 737 MAX jets that can cut off automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The issue emerged from a cockpit software update. It can occur when flight crews change their planned flight path after a missed approach. The autopilot then drops to a simpler level of automation for pitch control, increasing pilot workload at a busy, low-altitude phase of flight.
Boeing said it informed all 737 operators about the issue last month and shared guidance reinforcing existing pilot procedures. “Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue,” the company said in a statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it will convene a Corrective Action Review Board to determine whether the glitch is a flight-safety concern. If it is, certification of Boeing’s new 737 MAX 10 could be delayed, and the entry into service of the recently approved MAX 7 could be complicated.
A permanent fix was originally planned for 2028, though Boeing says it is working to speed that up. Southwest and United have asked Boeing not to deliver new MAX jets with the affected software.
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