Aviation authority FAA flags seat safety risk on over 450 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is proposing inspections for passenger seats on 453 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft registered in the United States. The FAA says some seat assemblies may have been incorrectly installed in seat tracks, creating a risk that they could disengage during increased loads, turbulence, or an emergency landing. If not addressed, the agency warns the seats could injure passengers and crew or obstruct the aisle, slowing evacuation. The FAA’s proposal was issued as Boeing works to improve production quality under CEO Kelly Ortberg after early-2024 issues involving an Alaska Air 737 MAX door plug panel. The fix is estimated at about one work hour to inspect and one hour to correct each assembly, with no parts required.