Boeing 787 Glitch May Cut Pilot-ATC Comms Mid-Flight

A critical software issue in Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is raising concerns over mid-flight communication failures between pilots and air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently flagged a defect in the aircraft’s very high frequency (VHF) radio system that can cause automatic switching between active and standby channels — a glitch that could leave flight crews unaware of missed instructions from ground control.

Though the fault can be manually corrected by observant pilots, the FAA warns that this vulnerability may lead to serious consequences, including loss of separation between aircraft, runway incursions, or even mid-air collisions. A proposed airworthiness directive addressing the issue is open for public comment until April 14.

Boeing has responded by releasing a software patch, but according to Qatar Airways, the fix has not resolved the issue in their fleet. The airline reported that its 787 aircraft continued to experience similar VHF problems, even after implementing the software upgrade.

“Flight crew are still reporting similar issues from post-mod airplanes,” Qatar Airways noted in its feedback to the FAA. Boeing and its systems partner Collins Aerospace have acknowledged the ongoing issue and are continuing their investigation.

This incident is the latest in a string of quality control concerns surrounding the Dreamliner. In 2023, the FAA investigated widespread leaky lavatory faucets that allowed water to seep into sensitive equipment bays, despite Boeing’s claim that the problem was limited to specific aircraft batches. More recently, in 2024, all 787s were ordered to be reinspected amid allegations that Boeing staff may have falsified inspection records — including reports that some aircraft left the factory without wing inspections.

These repeated issues have only fueled further scrutiny over Boeing’s manufacturing practices and software reliability.

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