Boeing has detected a software problem in some 737 MAX aircraft that could cause automated flight guidance to switch off during a particular landing situation, potentially affecting around 96 aircraft operated by Indian airlines.
Air India Express and Akasa Air together have a fleet of roughly 96 Boeing 737 MAX planes. Air India Express operates about 53, while Akasa Air has 43 aircraft of the type.
A Boeing spokesperson told Reuters that the company notified all 737 operators about the problem last month and is developing a software update to permanently fix it.
“Last month, we informed all 737 operators about a software issue where pilots may experience a reduction in automation during a landing scenario,” the spokesperson said. Boeing also provided operators with information reinforcing existing pilot procedures for safely managing such situations.
Akasa Air said it was in touch with Boeing over the issue and maintained that it had no impact on the safety of its operations. The airline did not clarify whether any of its 737 MAX aircraft had actually experienced the problem.
Air India Express had not immediately responded to queries. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also had not immediately commented on whether it was reviewing the issue or considering an advisory for Indian airlines.
The development comes as Boeing aircraft in India remain under increased scrutiny following the Air India crash in Ahmedabad in June 2025 and subsequent safety inspections and incidents involving the airline’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet.
WHAT IS THE AUTOPILOT SOFTWARE ISSUE?
The problem is linked to a cockpit software update and can arise when pilots modify their intended flight path after a missed approach, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Boeing documents.
According to sources, the automated flight guidance system may disengage following a missed approach if the new approach route differs from the flight path that had originally been programmed.
However, the issue does not prevent pilots from manually controlling the aircraft. Boeing has advised operators to reset the system after a missed approach as a precaution, according to sources cited by PTI.
The manufacturer is developing a permanent software fix, while existing procedures are available to help flight crews safely handle the situation.
BOEING AIRCRAFT IN INDIA FACE CONTINUED SAFETY SCRUTINY
The software issue comes after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad in June 2025, killing 260 people. In the aftermath, the DGCA ordered safety and pre-flight maintenance inspections for all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners operated by Indian airlines.
In another incident in February this year, an Air India Boeing 787-8 flying from London to Bengaluru was grounded after the pilot reported a possible problem with the locking mechanism of the fuel-control switch.
The government subsequently said Boeing’s detailed inspection of the mechanism found no abnormality.
The fuel-control switch controls the flow of fuel to the aircraft’s engines. The crew had reported that the switch twice failed to remain securely latched in the “run” position when light vertical pressure was applied during engine start-up. It remained properly secured on the third attempt, and the flight was completed without incident.
Those incidents involved the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and are unrelated to the latest software problem affecting certain 737 MAX aircraft.
AKASA SAYS 737 MAX OPERATIONS ARE SAFE
Akasa Air said it was coordinating with Boeing regarding the autopilot-related software issue and that the problem had not affected the safety of its 737 MAX operations.
“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.
The airline said its aircraft continued to operate safely in line with established procedures and applicable regulatory requirements. It did not disclose whether any of its 737 MAX planes had encountered the issue.
Air India Express had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The DGCA also had not immediately said whether it was reviewing the issue or planning to issue guidance to Indian carriers.
BOEING 737 MAX'S GLOBAL SAFETY HISTORY
The latest software problem adds to the scrutiny that has surrounded the 737 MAX internationally.
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, resulting in 157 deaths.
The aircraft came under renewed scrutiny in January 2024 after a door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 during a flight. The incident triggered investigations into Boeing’s manufacturing and quality-control practices.
Meanwhile, two major US carriers, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, have asked Boeing not to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft fitted with the software associated with the latest problem. Instead, they have requested aircraft using an earlier software version, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Boeing has delivered more than 2,400 737 MAX aircraft to airlines worldwide.
