Boeing 737 MAX autopilot glitch could affect 96 planes operated by Indian airlines

Boeing said it informed all 737 operators about the autopilot issue last month and is working on a software update to permanently address the glitch.A Boeing 737 MAX plane is parked outside the Renton facility in Washington, US. (Photo: Reuters/File)New Delhi,Sep 28, 2026 09:48 ISTBoeing has identified a software issue in some 737 MAX aircraft that could cause automated flight guidance to disengage during a specific landing scenario, potentially affecting around 96 such planes operated by Indian airlines.Air India Express and Akasa Air together operate around 96 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Air India Express has about 53, while Akasa Air operates 43.Boeing said it informed all 737 operators about the issue last month and is working on a software update to permanently address the glitch.“Last month, we informed all 737 operators about a software issue where pilots may experience a reduction in automation during a landing scenario,” a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters. “We shared information with operators that reinforced existing pilot procedures for safely handling such cases,” the spokesperson added.The development came amid heightened scrutiny of Boeing aircraft in India following the June 2025 Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad and subsequent safety checks and incidents involving the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.WHAT IS THE AUTOPILOT GLITCH? The issue emerged from a cockpit software update and can occur when flight crews alter their planned flight path after a missed approach, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing company documents.According to sources, the automated flight guidance system could disengage after a missed approach if the subsequent approach path differs from the one originally planned.The issue does not mean the aircraft cannot be flown manually. Boeing has advised operators to reset the system following a missed approach as a precautionary measure, sources told PTI.The company is working on a permanent software update, while existing procedures are in place to help pilots safely manage the situation.INDIA'S BOEING SAFETY SCRUTINYBoeing's autopilot glitch came after the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in June 2025, which killed 260 people. Following the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated safety and pre-flight maintenance checks for all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Indian airlines.In a separate incident in February this year, an Air India Boeing 787-8 operating a London-Bengaluru flight was also grounded after its pilot reported a possible issue with the fuel-control switch locking mechanism.The government later said Boeing's detailed examination of the mechanism found no abnormality.The fuel-control switch regulates the flow of fuel to the aircraft's engines. The crew had reported that the switch twice failed to remain positively latched in the “run” position when light vertical pressure was applied during engine start-up. It remained stable on the third attempt and the flight was completed without incident.These incidents involve the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and are separate from the latest software issue affecting certain 737 MAX aircraft.AKASA SAYS NO IMPACT ON SAFETY OF 737 MAX JETSAkasa Air said it was coordinating with Boeing and that there was no impact on the safety of operations concerning its 737 MAX planes.“We are closely coordinating with Boeing and can confirm that there is no impact on the safety of Akasa Air operations,” an airline spokesperson told PTI.“Our aircraft continue to operate safely in accordance with established procedures and applicable regulatory requirements,” the spokesperson said.The airline did not specify whether any of its 737 MAX aircraft had experienced the issue.Air India Express did not immediately respond to requests for comment.There was also no immediate response from the DGCA on whether it was examining the issue or issuing any advisory to Indian carriers.BOEING'S 737 MAX SAFETY HISTORYThe latest software issue adds to the scrutiny surrounding the 737 MAX globally.The aircraft was grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. A Lion Air 737 MAX 8 crashed in Indonesia in October 2018, killing 189 people, while an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 crashed in March 2019, killing 157 people.The model faced renewed scrutiny in January 2024 after a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 during a flight, prompting investigations into Boeing's manufacturing and quality-control practices.Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines – two major airlines in the US – have asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft equipped with the software linked to the latest issue and instead requested an earlier version, The Wall Street Journal reported.Globally, Boeing has delivered more than 2,400 737 MAX aircraft to airlines.- Ends(with inputs from agencies)