New software error discovered on Boeing 737 Max

Boeing has found a new software flaw in its widely used 737 Max model. According to the company, the problem on some machines can mean that the automated landing navigation is initially not fully available if the crew has previously aborted a landing attempt. But pilots are trained to land machines even without this function, Boeing said. It can also be reactivated in a series of steps.

The company was made aware of the error in November 2024, according to research by The Wall Street Journal. At first it appeared that the problem did not meet the requirements for a safety check. This was initiated in September.

It is currently unclear how many of the more than 2,000 737 Max aircraft delivered are affected. The company informed all airlines that use the model about the new software error in August, a spokesman said. It was said that he did not pose a security risk, wrote the Wall Street Journal. Engineers were also working on a permanent solution. According to the newspaper, the US airlines Southwest and United Boeing do not want to accept machines with the software error. The US aviation authority FAA is investigating the problem.

Boeing has been under close scrutiny from regulators for several years. 346 people died in crashes of two model aircraft in October 2018 and March 2019. The central trigger was assistance software that intervened too heavily in the control under certain circumstances. In January 2024, a fuselage part of an almost new 737 aircraft broke off during climb.