Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have told Boeing they will not accept new 737 MAX aircraft equipped with recently identified software now under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Southwest has asked to receive aircraft with an older software version instead.
Southwest has been anticipating the MAX 7 for its fleet and plans to begin flying the aircraft next year.
The FAA’s investigation could affect certification of the MAX 10 if the software issue is deemed an unsafe condition requiring corrective measures. Boeing notified 737 MAX operators about the glitch in late August and said at the time that it did not pose a safety risk.
Boeing is developing a permanent software fix and working with airlines on procedures to help pilots manage the feature if needed.