Captain reported navigation systems malfunctions due to suspected 5G interference led to an altitude overshoot during departure.
Synopsis
Captain reported navigation systems malfunctions due to suspected 5G interference led to an altitude overshoot during departure.
Narrative
Aircraft cleared EXTAN Departure from Runway 8 DEN. Before takeoff flows accomplished. Auto throttles; VNAV; and LNAV armed. Takeoff was normal; but I noticed after liftoff; LNAV was still armed but not active; and then prior to flap retraction; I noticed VNAV was still armed but not active. Then passing minimum cleanup altitude; MASI (Mach Airspeed Indicator) bug did not increase to flaps up MASI speed. F/O (First Officer) noticed also. I manually flew the magenta line to the first fix; KIDNG. Cleaned up aircraft normally. We switched off both flight directors and disconnected autothrottles; and then flight directors back on; but no change. Entered KIDNG manually and tried LNAV direct; but no change. At this point; we should have reset MCP ALT to 10;000 feet; to maintain prior to KIDNG; but distraction resulted in climbing to 10;300 feet; before correcting to 10;000 feet during intermediate level off. No traffic separation conflicts. After KIDNG; we attempted KMBEL LNAV direct and LNAV/VNAV became active and aircraft automation worked normally for the remainder of the flight including the LNAV arrival and approach into ZZZ. The reason I suspect this may be a 5G issue is the evidence (LNAV and VNAV armed but not active; and Airspeed bug not increasing to MASI UP speed at min cleanup altitude) indicates the issue may have been corrupt radio altimeter data in the aircraft sensors which caused aircraft to think it was still on the ground. Then for some reason; either increased AGL during the climb or distance from the source; the aircraft automation began to sense proper information. This is graduate level stuff and I am; by no means; an expert. Just reporting the information as I saw it and speculating on possible reasons. One last important note. Aircraft departing prior to us (other carrier) aircraft was queried by Tower to verify they were proceeding direct to KIDNG. Perhaps; they experienced the same phenomena since their ground track and late turn attracted Tower's attention.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.