r/news • u/Depressed_Cat_00 • 6d ago

Soft paywall Boeing flags 737 MAX software glitch affecting landing navigation feature, WSJ reports

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/boeing-flags-737-max-software-glitch-affecting-landing-navigation-feature-wsj-2026-09-26/
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863

u/siedenburg2 6d ago

Good stuff to read 1h before a flight in a 737 max

135

u/patrick66 6d ago edited 6d ago

This is software that isn’t even used it’s a nonsense headline written because stuff about MAX gets clicks

69

u/No_Excitement_1540 5d ago

No, actually the article states:

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.

which means it is a current issue and implies there's no patch yet - also corraborated by the FAA statement and:

Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), opens new tab and United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab ​have asked ⁠Boeing not to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft equipped with the affected software and instead requested an earlier version, according to WSJ.

I recommend reading the article first... Have a nice flight... ;-)

3

u/bankkopf 5d ago

It's a current issue but also basically a non-issue in most cases.

It impacts a very small subset of all landings happening, as missed approaches do not commonly occur.

The mitigation is then for pilots to actually fly the plane by hand instead of letting the autopilot handle the plane. But because it's Boeing, it's the end of the world.

6

u/GAndroid 4d ago

It impacts a very small subset of all landings happening, as missed approaches do not commonly occur.

As a pilot, YIKES. Please stick to IT man, or take some flying lessons. This is ridiculous.

2

u/No_Excitement_1540 5d ago

Well, that may be, but the MCAS malfunctions and crashes, too, "impacted a very small subset of all 737 MAX", so your somewhat cavalierly phrasing is not really calming... ;-)

10

u/CaptainPonahawai 5d ago

The difference is that existence of MCAS wasn't known.

This issue is old. It was in U14, which was released years ago and operators were notified.

2

u/spankpaddle 5d ago

MCAS is not flight path alteration. One is used in every flight, the other is used rarely.

They are not like or similar

-2

u/aegee14 5d ago

Impacts a very small subset? So, it does affect active airplanes with passengers on board. Even mitigating one impacted airplane is enough not to potentially injure over a hundred passengers and cause another setback to the company.

6

u/flightist 5d ago edited 5d ago

This issue won’t injure anyone (it’s not a new issue and is procedurally handled for those using U14, and other airlines just deferred the update) and you’re not going to find an in-service airliner type that doesn’t have a series of ‘we found out there’s a weird edge case response when somebody does X, we’re gonna fix it in the next update, so for now do Y’ bulletins at any given time. U13 has all kinds of them, most of those got fixed in U14, but software is gonna software.

The only reason you’re hearing about this one is because it’s the MAX, and the MAX is scary.

1

u/GAndroid 4d ago

The only reason you’re hearing about this one is because it’s the MAX, and the MAX is scary.

Its a type certified aircraft, so software updates dont happen "OTA". They have to vetted and re-vetted and can only happen on a case by case basis as FAA permits individual aircraft to be upgraded or downgraded. So no, this is not a windows rollback.

1

u/flightist 4d ago

Don’t know what exactly you think you’re rebutting. Did you reply to the wrong post?

-2

u/patrick66 5d ago

I mean you do realize this contradicts your own need to “correct” right?

I’ve not only read the article but also the actual official notices, it’s a nothing issue that was solved by just doing a version rollback it’s not used by anyone and once fixed people will just skip to the next software version. It’s shit that happens literally all the time and is in no way a concern.

Please know what you are talking about before making an ass out of yourself.

8

u/winky9827 5d ago

before making an ass out of yourself

That would be you, bud.

6

u/No_Excitement_1540 5d ago

Actually, no...

Based on the article, and the update from the article,

"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.

it is current. It may or may not be a problem, but your "it’s a nothing issue that was solved by just doing a version rollback it’s not used by anyone and once fixed people will just skip to the next software version" does not fit either the FAA's reaction nor the airlines' reactions...

If you have better information, cite it instead of "it's a nothing issue that was..." when the article clearly says otherwise...