Boeing’s 737 MAX issue puts Indian carriers in focus

Boeing has identified a previously undisclosed software issue on the 737 MAX that could cause an automated navigation feature to fail during landing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing company documents.

The issue stems from a cockpit software update and can occur when flight crews change their planned flight path after a missed approach, according to the report.

When contacted for comment, Boeing said it had informed all 737 operators last month about the software issue, under which pilots may not have access to automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario.

“We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures ​for safely handling such cases. Our engineers are working on a software update to permanently address the issue,” Boeing said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of a potential issue involving a software update for flight computers on certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and was working closely with Boeing and airlines to address it.

Among Indian carriers, Air India Express and Akasa Air are the two largest operators of the Boeing 737 MAX. Air India Express has 53 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in its fleet, while Akasa Air operates 43, according to Planespotters.net data. Together, the two airlines operate 96 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that may be affected by the software issue.

Akasa Air, however, said there was no impact on the safety of its 737 MAX operations, while Air India Express has not commented on the issue so far.

Akasa Air said in a statement: “We are closely coordinating with Boeing and can confirm that there is no impact to the safety of Akasa Air operations. Our aircraft continue to operate safely in accordance with established procedures and applicable regulatory requirements. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority.”

In the US, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft equipped with the affected software, instead requesting an earlier version, according to the Wall Street Journal.