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FAA to certify Boeing 737 MAX 10 next week

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 2:44 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. FAA will certify the Boeing 737 MAX 10 as early as next week.
The agency said the computer glitch poses no safety risk and issued a non-mandatory SAIB.
The glitch can disable VNAV during go-around, forcing pilots to reprogram manually.
United, American, Southwest and Alaska airlines refuse deliveries with U14 or U14.1 software.
Boeing expects first MAX 10 deliveries in spring 2027 to WestJet, Alaska and Ryanair.

History

Historical Context

In March 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the Boeing 737 MAX worldwide after two fatal crashes, halting deliveries. The grounding affected 387 aircraft, cost Boeing roughly $2.5 billion, and prompted United, American, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines to suspend orders. Today, the FAA certification of the 737 MAX 10, despite a VNAV software glitch, echoes earlier safety scrutiny that made WestJet and Ryanair postpone acceptance. The episode underscores regulators’ heightened oversight, suggesting future MAX variants may face stricter compliance checks before global fleets expand.

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Story summary

The U.S. FAA will certify the Boeing 737 MAX 10 as early as next week.
The agency said the computer glitch poses no safety risk and issued a non-mandatory SAIB.
The glitch can disable VNAV during go-around, forcing pilots to reprogram manually.
United, American, Southwest and Alaska airlines refuse deliveries with U14 or U14.1 software.
Boeing expects first MAX 10 deliveries in spring 2027 to WestJet, Alaska and Ryanair.

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