Boeing aircraft face serious software glitch; 96 Indian-operated planes may be affected

NEW DELHI: A software glitch has been detected in some Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, according to a report. Boeing itself has informed operators about the issue. The aircraft manufacturer found that the automated flight guidance system could become unavailable under certain conditions during landing. As many as 96 aircraft operated by Indian airlines could be affected by the issue, the report said.

A Boeing spokesperson said all 737 operators had been informed about the issue and that a software update was being carried out to fix it. Air India Express has 53 Boeing aircraft, while Akasa Air operates 43. Akasa Air said it was working with Boeing on the issue. Air India Express has not yet commented on the matter. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also not issued a response.

The issue has been reported in the cockpit software and could surface when there is a change in the flight path. Boeing found that the automated flight guidance system could become unavailable when the aircraft switches to a new approach path for landing instead of the route that was initially planned. However, Boeing clarified that the glitch would not prevent pilots from flying the aircraft. The company has advised operators to reset the system as part of the corrective measures.