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FAA Delays Certification of Boeing 737 MAX 10 Over Software Glitch

Regulators say the defect can cut off automated vertical guidance during go-arounds, prompting carriers to reject affected deliveries.

Overview

  • FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said on Monday the agency will withhold approval of the MAX 10 until the newly disclosed software problem is fixed and safety concerns are addressed.
  • Boeing and the FAA say a flight‑management software release can interrupt vertical navigation guidance during a go‑around, which can raise pilot workload at a critical moment.
  • Boeing has notified operators of the issue and is accelerating a permanent software update while offering interim pilot procedures to handle the condition.
  • United Airlines and Southwest have told Boeing they will not accept new jets with the affected software version and have asked for earlier software instead.
  • The pause threatens the MAX 10 delivery timetable, pushed Boeing shares sharply lower, and complicates plans for a jet that carries roughly 1,500 orders even as carriers such as WestJet report no in‑service problems.