The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on September 28 that it will delay the certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 aircraft due to a software glitch affecting the automated flight guidance system during a specific landing scenario. The FAA has stressed the need to resolve the issue before granting approval, marking a setback for Boeing’s efforts to bring its largest single-aisle model to market.

The software problem, which emerged from an update introduced in November 2024, can occur when pilots perform a go-around—a procedure in which a landing attempt is aborted and the aircraft climbs back for another approach. In this situation, the glitch may prevent pilots from accessing certain automated vertical navigation features, potentially increasing pilot workload during a critical phase of flight at low altitude.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the agency has yet to determine whether the software issue constitutes a safety-of-flight problem but emphasized that certification for the MAX 10 will be postponed until the FAA is confident no such risk exists. Bedford described the glitch as distinct from the crucial flight control problems involved in the fatal 2018 and 2019 MAX crashes, noting that pilots retain full control of the aircraft and are trained to handle these scenarios.

Boeing acknowledged the software issue and has informed operators using affected aircraft. The company is collaborating with airlines to develop procedures allowing pilots to re-enable the autopilot feature if needed and is working on a software fix expected to be completed in a relatively short timeframe. The software involved was developed by GE Aerospace, which has not yet publicly commented.

The FAA indicated it would convene a Corrective Action Review Board to evaluate the problem further, but the meeting is not expected to occur before the following week. The review could prolong the certification timeline for the MAX 10, which industry insiders anticipated might be approved as early as October.

Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 is a critical element in the company’s strategy to recover market share lost to Airbus in the highly competitive narrow-body jet segment. The MAX 10 accounts for more than half of Boeing’s 737 MAX orders since 2020, despite its lack of certification to date. Airlines including Alaska, American, United, and Ryanair have been awaiting delivery for years to take advantage of its operational efficiencies amid rising fuel prices.

Following the FAA announcement, Boeing’s shares dropped by nearly 7% before partially rebounding. Some carriers, like Canadian airline WestJet, which operates planes with the affected software, reported no in-service issues and emphasized their reliance on existing pilot training and procedures to manage the event safely. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines stated none of their aircraft currently use the problematic software version, with United suspending acceptance of such jets pending the resolution of the issue.

The MAX 7, the smallest MAX series variant, was certified by the FAA in August despite containing the software update, but the regulator has signaled that if the software glitch represents a safety risk, certification and deliveries of this model could also be impacted. The FAA reaffirmed that safety remains the priority throughout the ongoing certification process.