Seats on hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets were incorrectly installed, FAA says - CNN

What the report says

CNN, carrying a Reuters report, says the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Monday proposed an airworthiness directive covering Boeing 737 MAX aircraft registered in the United States after receiving information that some passenger seat assemblies may have been installed incorrectly. The proposal applies to 453 U.S.-registered jets and would require inspections and, where needed, corrections.

According to the FAA material cited in the report, the concern involves seat assemblies mounted in tracks. If they were not secured properly, the seats could come loose under heavier loads, during turbulence or in an emergency landing. The agency warned that such a failure could hurt passengers or crew, or obstruct an aisle and delay evacuation.

The FAA estimated that each 737 MAX could have as many as 69 affected track-mounted seat assemblies. The agency said each assembly would take about one work hour to address and would not require replacement parts. The report notes that the FAA did not specify how soon airlines would have to complete any required work.

Boeing said it had already sent operators guidance on the matter in December 2025 and supports the FAA making that guidance mandatory. The proposed directive comes as Boeing continues efforts to strengthen production quality under CEO Kelly Ortberg, following heightened scrutiny after a door plug panel separated from a nearly new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX during a flight in early 2024. While the FAA directly regulates U.S. operators, Reuters noted that overseas aviation authorities often adopt similar requirements when relevant.