Story perspectives

FAA Delays 737 MAX 10 Certification Over VNAV Glitch

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 10:28 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Bedford Delays MAX10 Certification

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the FAA will delay certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 because of a software issue.
Boeing said the glitch could prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance after a missed-approach landing.
Bedford said the delay will remain until the problem is fixed, with no timeline provided.
Boeing shares fell 6.3% in afternoon trading after the certification delay was announced.

Summary

Boeing Pauses Jet Deliveries

Boeing detected a VNAV software glitch in November 2024 but initially withheld the information from operators.
The company classified the issue as non-safety-critical in February 2025 before launching a formal safety review.
Boeing told airlines in August it would issue guidance by November and target a permanent fix by early 2028.
Southwest, United, Alaska and American Airlines have asked Boeing to pause deliveries of jets with software version U.14.

Summary

FAA Tightens MAX Oversight

Boeing's 737 MAX program suffered a January 2024 door-panel blowout blamed on manufacturing errors.
The FAA intensified oversight of Boeing's manufacturing quality controls after the incident.
Airlines adopted a “trust-but-verify” stance following earlier grounding and delay incidents.
The MAX program is described as a cash cow vital to Boeing's turnaround.
The MAX series previously suffered fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

History

Historical Context

In 2005, the FAA grounded Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner after two lithium-ion battery fires sparked worldwide safety concerns on commercial jets. The incident cost Boeing roughly $2.5 billion in redesign expenses and delayed deliveries to United, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines by 18 months. Today, the FAA’s postponement of 737 MAX 10 certification over a VNAV glitch mirrors the Dreamliner grounding, prompting United and American airlines to demand delivery pauses. The recurring certification setbacks risk eroding airline confidence, forcing Boeing to allocate over $500 million to software remediation and potentially reshaping future regulatory oversight.

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Bedford Delays MAX10 Certification

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the FAA will delay certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 because of a software issue.
Boeing said the glitch could prevent pilots from accessing automated flight guidance after a missed-approach landing.
Bedford said the delay will remain until the problem is fixed, with no timeline provided.
Boeing shares fell 6.3% in afternoon trading after the certification delay was announced.

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