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Hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets face cabin safety risks from flawed seat installations, FAA warns

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The FAA has warned that hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets registered in the U.S. may have incorrectly installed seats requiring inspection and correction.
  • If not fixed, these seats could injure passengers during emergency landings or obstruct evacuation routes.
  • Boeing stated it issued guidance on the issue in December 2025 and supports the FAA making this guidance mandatory.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has flagged a potential safety risk affecting hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets registered in the United States. The agency issued a proposed airworthiness directive on Monday, indicating that passenger seats on these aircraft may have been installed incorrectly.

According to the FAA, these improperly installed seat assemblies could dislodge from the seat tracks under increased load, turbulence, or during an emergency landing. This poses a risk of injury to passengers and crew members. Furthermore, dislodged seats could block aisles, potentially slowing down evacuation procedures in critical situations.

The directive applies to 453 jets registered in the U.S., though foreign regulators often follow FAA directives. The issue could affect up to 69 seat assemblies per plane. While inspecting and fixing each assembly is estimated to take about an hour, airlines might be able to expedite the process with multiple employees working simultaneously. Boeing has stated that it provided guidance to operators in December 2025 and supports the FAA's move to make this mandatory.

We support the FAA making that guidance mandatory.

— Boeing spokespersonResponding to the FAA's proposed airworthiness directive regarding incorrectly installed seats on 737 MAX jets.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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