Boeing has identified a previously undisclosed 737 MAX software glitch that could cause an automated navigation feature to fail during landing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing company documents.
The software issue in some of its B737 MAX planes could result in disengagement of the automated flight guidance system after a missed landing approach and the aircraft maker is working on a permanent solution, according to sources.
The issue emerged from a cockpit software update and can occur when flight crews alter their planned flight path after a missed approach, the report said.
When reached for comment, Boeing said it informed all 737 operators last month about the software issue under which pilots may not have access to automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario.
“We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases. Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue,” Boeing said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of a potential issue in a software update for the flight computers on certain Boeing 737 MAX airplanes and was working closely with Boeing and the airlines.
“The FAA will convene a Corrective Action Review Board and will take immediate action if it identifies a safety concern,” the FAA said in a statement.
Boeing has been under intense regulatory and safety scrutiny in recent years following two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft, and after a mid-air cabin panel blowout on a nearly new Alaska Airlines MAX 9.
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft equipped with the affected software and instead requested an earlier version, according to WSJ.
It was not immediately clear how many aircraft are operating with the flawed software, the report said. Boeing, airlines and regulators are assessing the issue and whether it poses a flight-safety concern, it added.
In India, there are around 96 Boeing 737 MAX planes operated by Air India Express and Akasa Air.
A Boeing spokesperson on Sunday said its engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue.
“Last month, we informed all 737 operators about a software issue where pilots may experience a reduction in automation during a landing scenario. We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The sources said aircraft manufacturer has identified a software issue affecting certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which could result in the automated flight guidance system disengaging after a missed approach if the subsequent approach path differs from the one originally planned.
Boeing has issued an advisory to operators to reset the system following a missed approach as a precautionary measure to address the software issue, they added.
While Air India Express has around 53 planes, Akasa Air currently operates 43 such aircraft.
“We are closely coordinating with Boeing and can confirm that there is no impact to the safety of Akasa Air operations.
“Our aircraft continue to operate safely in accordance with established procedures and applicable regulatory requirements,” an airline spokesperson told PTI in a statement.
However, the carrier did not specifically mention whether any of its Boeing 737 MAX planes have been impacted due to the issue.
There was no response from Air India Express.
There was no immediate response from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on whether it was looking into the issue and whether any advisory was being issued to the airlines.
Agencies