Boeing identifies software issue affecting automation on some 737 MAX flights

Boeing has identified a software issue in some 737 MAX aircraft that could lead to the disengagement or reduction of automated flight guidance after a missed landing approach, according to sources cited in the report. The aircraft maker said it had informed all 737 operators about the issue the previous month. Boeing said the information provided to operators reinforced existing pilot procedures for handling such situations safely.

As a precaution, Boeing has advised operators to reset the system after a missed approach while it works on a permanent solution. The source material does not identify the affected aircraft or state how many planes worldwide are involved. India has about 96 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Air India Express and Akasa Air.

Air India Express operates 53 of the aircraft, while Akasa Air operates 43, according to the report. An Akasa Air spokesperson said the airline was coordinating closely with Boeing and that there was no impact on the safety of its operations. The spokesperson said the airline’s aircraft continued to operate safely under established procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.

Akasa Air did not specify whether any of its 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 on whether it was examining the issue or had issued an advisory. Boeing has delivered more than 2,400 737 MAX aircraft globally, the report said.

The development comes after Airbus identified a separate fuselage-coating quality issue affecting some A321neo aircraft, including about a dozen operated by IndiGo, according to sources.