The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed inspections for hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft due to a potential issue with incorrectly installed passenger seat assemblies, which could pose safety risks.
The proposed airworthiness directive, issued on Monday, July 27, would apply to 453 U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX jets. The FAA stated that improperly installed seats could detach from their tracks during turbulence or an emergency landing, potentially injuring passengers and crew or obstructing aisles during an evacuation.
The agency received a report indicating that some passenger seat assemblies had not been correctly installed in the seat tracks.
Each affected aircraft can have up to 69 track-mounted passenger seat assemblies. According to the FAA, inspecting each assembly would take approximately one work hour, with an additional hour required to correct any installation issues. No replacement parts would be needed, and airlines could reduce the overall inspection time by assigning multiple employees to work on the aircraft simultaneously.
The FAA has not specified when operators would be required to complete the inspections and any necessary repairs if the directive is adopted.
This proposal adds to the regulatory scrutiny facing Boeing, particularly its 737 MAX program. The company has been under increased oversight since January 2024, when a door plug panel blew out of a nearly new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX during flight, exposing significant production quality issues.
A Boeing spokesperson stated that the manufacturer had already issued guidance to operators on the seat installation issue in December 2025.
“We support the FAA making that guidance mandatory,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement reported by Reuters.
While the FAA’s authority extends only to U.S.-registered aircraft, aviation regulators in other countries often adopt similar directives when applicable.
According to aviation advisory and intelligence firm IBA, nearly 2,300 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are currently in service worldwide, including 823 registered in the United States.
