HUNDREDS of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft may require urgent seat repairs after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found that some passenger seats were incorrectly installed, potentially creating safety risks during emergency situations.
The FAA said on Monday that its proposed airworthiness directive would apply to 453 Boeing 737 MAX jets registered in the United States.
While the agency only has authority over US-registered aircraft, international aviation regulators typically adopt FAA directives when they are applicable to airlines operating similar aircraft.
The proposed directive follows findings that some passenger seat assemblies were not properly secured to seat tracks, allowing them to potentially detach during high loads, severe turbulence or an emergency landing.
The FAA warned that the issue could result in passengers or crew members being injured during an emergency landing or cause seats to obstruct aisles, slowing the evacuation process.
"This condition, if not addressed, could result in injury to passengers and crew during an emergency landing or could block the aisle, which could slow evacuation," the FAA said in its airworthiness directive proposal.
Each Boeing 737 MAX aircraft could contain up to 69 track-mounted passenger seat assemblies affected by the issue. The FAA estimated that correcting each assembly would take about one work hour and would not require replacement parts.
The agency did not specify how quickly airlines would be required to complete the repairs.
The directive comes as Boeing continues efforts to strengthen manufacturing standards and increase aircraft production under Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg.
The company has faced renewed scrutiny over production quality following a January 2024 incident in which a door plug panel detached from a nearly new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX aircraft during flight.
A Boeing spokesperson said the aircraft manufacturer had already issued guidance to operators regarding the seat installation issue in December 2025.
"We support the FAA making that guidance mandatory," the spokesperson said in an email. - July 28, 2026
