Boeing identifies software issue affecting automation on some 737 MAX aircraft

Boeing has detected a software issue in some 737 MAX aircraft that could cause the automated flight guidance system to disengage after a missed landing approach, according to sources cited in the report. The aircraft maker said it informed all 737 operators about the issue last month and provided information reinforcing existing pilot procedures for handling such situations. Boeing is working on a permanent solution.

As a precaution, the company has advised operators to reset the system after a missed approach, the sources said. The report did not state how many aircraft had experienced the issue or whether it had caused an accident. India has about 96 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Air India Express and Akasa Air.

Air India Express operates 53, while Akasa Air operates 43, according to the report. Akasa Air said it was coordinating closely with Boeing and that the issue had no impact on the safety of its operations. The airline said its aircraft continued to operate according to established procedures and regulatory requirements.

It did not specifically say whether any of its MAX aircraft had been affected. Air India Express did not respond to the report, and there was no immediate response from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation about whether it was investigating or had issued an advisory. Boeing has delivered more than 2,400 737 MAX aircraft globally, according to the report.

The issue comes after Airbus identified a separate surface-protection coating problem affecting some A321neo aircraft.