FAA Flags 31,000 Improperly Installed Seats On Boeing 737 MAX Planes

The FAA is flagging improperly installed passenger seats on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, proposing inspections that could affect more than 450 registered planes—over half of the U.S. 737 MAX fleet. Regulators said certain track-mounted seat assemblies were not correctly installed in seat tracks, and that seats could disengage under increased load, turbulence, or an emergency landing. The proposed work is estimated to cost airlines $2.7 million before any re-installation expenses, using an average of $85 to reassemble about 69 seats across 453 planes. The move comes about a week after the FAA said Boeing’s final safety checks are sufficient for airworthiness.