Boeing Stock Falls 6.9% as FAA Delays 737 MAX 10 Certification Over New Software Glitches
Boeing shares fell about 6.9% on September 29, 2026, after the Federal Aviation Administration announced it is delaying certification of the 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of Boeing’s best-selling jet, citing newly found software glitches uncovered during the final phase of review. The setback comes just eleven days after Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told investors that certification was coming “very soon,” with flight testing already complete and only documentation review remaining.
What Happened
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The FAA said the newly identified issue relates to flight-control software behavior found during its final documentation and system review, and that Boeing must resolve it before the agency will issue a type certificate. As of September 18, Ortberg had told analysts that only “three deliverables” remained outstanding and that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had recently flown the aircraft and come away “very complimentary.” The reversal just eleven days later caught investors off guard, given how close the program had appeared to the finish line.
Boeing has not provided a new target certification date, saying only that engineering teams are working with the FAA to resolve the issue “as quickly as safety allows.” The company had already begun manufacturing initial production units of the MAX 10 at its Renton, Washington, plant in anticipation of certification, and the aircraft represents roughly 30% of Boeing’s total order backlog, according to comments Ortberg made earlier in September.
Why It Matters
The delay extends a certification process that has already run more than five years past its original target. Congress had set an end-of-2022 deadline for MAX 10 certification tied to newer cockpit-alerting requirements, a deadline that was extended after lawmakers granted Boeing a waiver rather than forcing a costly flight-deck redesign. Each additional delay adds pressure to a program that airlines have built years of fleet-renewal planning around, and it reopens scrutiny of Boeing’s software validation processes at a moment when the company had been working to rebuild regulatory trust following earlier MAX groundings.
For Boeing specifically, the timing is difficult. The company is simultaneously managing a separate delay to its 777X program, which lacks ETOPS certification for extended twin-engine overwater operations due to a General Electric engine mid-seal issue that Ortberg has said may not resolve until 2027. Back-to-back certification setbacks across two major programs raise questions about Boeing’s near-term delivery guidance and cash-flow recovery timeline heading into 2027.
A Long Road to Certification
The 737 MAX 10 is the longest and highest-capacity member of the MAX family, competing directly with Airbus’s A321neo. Its certification has been repeatedly pushed back since Boeing originally targeted approval years ago, first over the flight-deck alerting requirement dispute in Congress, and more recently over engine anti-ice system concerns that surfaced in 2025 and pushed expected certification into 2026.
- Congress originally set an end-of-2022 certification deadline tied to cockpit-alerting rules
- Engine anti-ice system concerns delayed certification further into 2026
- Flight testing was reported complete as of mid-September 2026
- The MAX 10 accounts for roughly 30% of Boeing’s total order backlog
- A newly identified software issue is now the latest hurdle to a type certificate
Which Airlines Are Affected
United Airlines is the largest publicly disclosed MAX 10 customer, with more than 200 aircraft on order, and has previously said its fleet-renewal plans depend heavily on the model’s larger seating capacity. Delta Air Lines has also placed large MAX 10 orders as part of its narrowbody replacement strategy. Both carriers have had to repeatedly adjust internal fleet-planning assumptions as certification has slipped, and further delay increases pressure on airlines to lean on older aircraft or lease additional capacity to cover growth plans originally built around MAX 10 deliveries.
Airlines have generally avoided public criticism of Boeing during the certification process, wary of jeopardizing delivery position in the order queue, but analysts say continued delays raise the risk that some carriers quietly shift near-term capacity plans toward Airbus’s A321neo, which has already been certified and is in active production.
Boeing’s Response
Boeing said in a statement that it takes “the FAA’s findings seriously” and is prioritizing a fix over any specific delivery date. The company reiterated that safety, not schedule, will determine when the MAX 10 receives its type certificate. Ortberg is expected to address the delay directly in Boeing’s next investor update, where analysts will be watching for any change to 2026 delivery guidance and commentary on how the software issue was missed so late in a multi-year review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new software issue with the 737 MAX 10?
The FAA identified a flight-control software issue during its final documentation and system review that must be resolved before it will issue a type certificate. Boeing has not detailed the specific technical defect publicly.
Why did Boeing stock drop 6.9%?
Investors had expected imminent certification after CEO Kelly Ortberg said on September 18 that approval was coming “very soon.” The unexpected reversal, with no new certification date given, raised concerns about further delays to a program worth roughly 30% of Boeing’s backlog.
When will the 737 MAX 10 finally be certified?
Boeing has not given a new certification date. The company says it is working with the FAA to resolve the software issue and will provide updates as the review progresses.
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Helpful Resources
- FAA Newsroom — official aircraft certification announcements
- Boeing Media Room — official company statements and press releases
