FAA raises passenger safety concerns over seat installations on 453 Boeing 737 MAX planes

The FAA said Monday it is raising passenger-safety concerns about seat installations on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft registered in the U.S. The proposed airworthiness directive would require inspections for 453 jets. The agency says it received a report that some passenger seat assemblies may not be correctly installed in the seat tracks. That configuration could allow the assemblies to disengage from the tracks if there is increased load, turbulence, or an emergency landing. The FAA warns that, without correction, seats could injure passengers and crew during emergencies or block the aisle, slowing evacuation. The estimated repair process is about one work hour to inspect and one hour to fix each assembly, requiring no parts. Boeing says it issued guidance in December 2025 and supports making it mandatory.