FAA review board rules Boeing 737 MAX software glitch not a safety issue

Glitch surfaces after pilots alter flight path on missed approach

The Federal Aviation Administration determined Friday that a new Boeing 737 MAX software glitch does not pose a flight-safety issue, concluding an internal review that had raised questions about whether the problem could affect the aircraft during certain landings.

The agency’s corrective action review board — composed of various internal experts and convened to decide whether the problem amounted to an unsafe condition that needed to be addressed — found that it did not. The panel cited two factors: pilots retain full control of the aircraft, and the indications to the flight crew are clear and unambiguous.

“As with any situation, the FAA will consider appropriate action if it receives new information about this issue,” the agency said Friday.

Boeing did not immediately comment.

The Wall Street Journal had reported that some aviation-industry officials raised concerns the problem could pose a safety issue when 737 MAX jets are landing under certain circumstances.

The glitch emerged from a routine cockpit software update, the FAA said, and can occur when flight crews alter their planned flight path following a missed approach. In a certain scenario, pilots may have to fly manually without some autopilot functions.

The problem had threatened to complicate certification of Boeing’s longest and final variant of its bestselling 737, the MAX 10, which relies on the same software and had been expected to soon win approval to fly passengers. The smallest version of the jet, the MAX 7, also relies on the software and was certified earlier this year.

Boeing will issue a bulletin to airlines explaining how to recognize and respond to the problem if it occurs during flight. The agency will also issue what is known as a special airworthiness information bulletin to U.S. airlines and foreign regulators to draw attention to Boeing’s bulletin.

The board’s conclusion means the issue will be addressed through informational bulletins from Boeing and the FAA rather than through a mandatory directive from the agency.