Boeing: 737 MAX software fix will be 'completed in the coming weeks'

The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Monday that Boeing is still working on a software fix for its 737 MAX jets.

After two 737 MAX planes crashed within five months of each other — one operated by Lion Air, the other by Ethiopian Airlines — all MAX jets were grounded around the world. Investigators have been taking a close look at the 737 MAX stabilization system, which may have been involved in both accidents.

Boeing had said it would get a software fix for the system to the FAA last week, but in a statement, the FAA said it "expects to receive Boeing's final package of its software enhancement over the coming weeks for [agency] approval. Time is needed for additional work by Boeing as the result of an ongoing review of the 737 MAX flight control system to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Boeing also announced that the software fix will be "completed in the coming weeks," but did not offer any explanation for the delay. "Safety is our first priority, and we will take a thorough and methodical approach to the development and testing of the update to ensure we take the time to get it right," the company said.