The FAA has delayed certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 until a newly disclosed software issue affecting certain 737 MAX aircraft is resolved. The problem involves automated vertical flight guidance in a specific sequence following a go-around.
What we know
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed on September 28 that the regulator will not certify the 737-10 until it is satisfied the issue has been addressed. Boeing says that after a specific missed-approach sequence followed by a route modification, pilots may lose access to automated VNAV vertical guidance. The autopilot can remain available and crews retain control of the aircraft.
The issue involves versions 14 and 14.1 of the flight-management-computer software. The FAA is convening a Corrective Action Review Board, while Boeing is working to accelerate a permanent software update. The regulator has given no timetable for resolving the issue.
Why it matters
The MAX 10 had reached the final stages of a certification program already running years behind schedule. The latest setback creates fresh uncertainty for Boeing and airlines awaiting the largest MAX variant. A certification delay does not mean the aircraft is unsafe by definition; it means the regulator is not yet satisfied that every required technical point has been closed. For airline customers, that uncertainty affects delivery schedules, fleet planning and training. It also comes shortly after Lufthansa Group ordered 20 MAX 10s.
The review is not limited in relevance to the MAX 10 because some in-service MAX aircraft use software versions under examination. WestJet says it has experienced no related in-service events, while several major U.S. airlines say their current fleets do not use the affected versions.
What to watch
The key questions are the FAA review outcome, the timing of the software fix and the resulting delivery impact. The FAA has not announced a fleet-wide grounding of the 737 MAX.
Sources: FAA and Bryan Bedford statements reported September 28, 2026; Boeing; Reuters; specialist aviation reporting.
Related: Boeing 737 MAX software glitch under FAA review, the technical issue linked to the certification process.
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