Boeing completed the 737 MAX 10’s final planned certification flight test on July 28, 2026, but the aircraft was not certified at that point. Boeing said development-assurance reviews, system-safety assessments and final submissions to the FAA remained. The engine anti-ice redesign had been validated in flight testing, while a separate flight-computer software review was still part of the certification picture reported in October.
What changed—and what did not
The headline’s “begins final flight tests” framing is out of date. Boeing announced that the MAX 10 had completed its final planned certification flight test on July 28, 2026. It reported 976 flights, more than 2,060 flight hours and about 1,040 ground-test hours for the campaign. Those are Boeing’s figures, not independently audited totals. Boeing’s July 28 announcement
Completing planned flights was a testing milestone, not FAA approval. Boeing said reviews of development assurance and system safety, along with final regulatory deliverables, remained. In October, Reuters reported that the FAA had delayed certification while it analyzed a separate software anomaly. Reuters’ July 28 report Reuters’ October 2 report
What the engine anti-ice problem was
The issue concerned engine anti-ice, not the aircraft’s general wing de-icing equipment or ground de-icing procedures. Boeing described rare conditions that could cause the system to overheat without pilot intervention or a design change. Reuters reported that the redesign addressed overheating and the possibility of engine failure. Boeing’s July 16 update Reuters’ July 16 report
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Boeing said the anti-ice changes had been validated in MAX 10 flight testing, and that the changes were planned for production across the 737 MAX family and as retrofits to aircraft already in service. That describes Boeing’s stated plans and testing status; it does not by itself establish a later, specific FAA approval of the redesign for the MAX 10.
Why flight-test completion is not certification
Certification involves more than completing the planned flight program. After the July milestone, Boeing still had assurance reviews, safety assessments and final documents to close out, while the FAA had to assess the material and make its own regulatory determination. A test campaign can therefore be complete while certification remains pending.
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On July 28, Boeing said the program remained on a path toward certification in 2026 and customer deliveries in 2027. Those were targets, not confirmed dates. Reuters reported on October 2 that the FAA had delayed certification pending its analysis of the software issue; its report described possible approval later that month as an expectation, not a confirmed outcome.
The October software review was a separate issue
Reuters reported that an FAA Corrective Action Review Board found a flight-computer software anomaly in some MAX aircraft posed no safety concern. In a specific approach sequence, the anomaly could cause vertical navigation to disengage. The panel’s reasoning, as reported by Reuters, was that pilots retained full control and cockpit indications were clear and unambiguous.
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This was distinct from the engine anti-ice redesign. Reuters said Boeing would follow FAA direction and work on a software update, while working with airlines on a procedure to re-enable automated vertical navigation. The panel’s safety finding did not itself certify the MAX 10; Reuters still described certification as pending when it published its October report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the MAX 10 compares with the MAX 7 milestone
| Variant | Dated milestone | What it established | Status or work described |
|---|---|---|---|
| 737 MAX 10 | July 28, 2026 | Boeing completed the final planned certification flight test. | Reviews, safety assessments and final FAA deliverables remained. Reuters reported a separate FAA software review delaying certification in October. Boeing Reuters |
| 737 MAX 7 | August 2026 | The FAA certified the variant, with a redesigned engine anti-ice system, according to the Associated Press. | This approval applied to the MAX 7, not the MAX 10. Associated Press |
The MAX 7’s certification is relevant context for the anti-ice redesign, but it does not establish MAX 10 certification. Each variant has its own approval status and remaining work.
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How the program reached this point
- January 9, 2026: Reuters reported that the FAA had allowed the MAX 10 to enter a second phase of flight testing; the engine anti-ice issue was then unresolved. Reuters’ January report
- July 16, 2026: Boeing said flight testing was 98% complete, reporting 972 test flights, about 2,060 flight hours and 1,033 ground-test hours at that stage. Those were interim, not final campaign figures. Boeing said assurance reviews and safety assessments were still underway. Boeing’s update
- July 28, 2026: Boeing announced completion of final planned certification flight testing and reported final campaign figures of 976 flights, more than 2,060 flight hours and about 1,040 ground-test hours. Closeout work and FAA submissions remained. Boeing’s announcement
- August 2026: The FAA certified the MAX 7 with the redesigned anti-ice system, according to AP; this was not approval of the MAX 10. Associated Press
- October 2, 2026: Reuters reported the FAA panel’s finding on the separate software anomaly and said MAX 10 certification had been delayed during FAA analysis. Reuters
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