The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that seats on hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft may have been improperly installed and require inspection.
The FAA said the issue affects 453 U.S.-registered planes and proposed requiring airlines to conduct seat checks.
According to the FAA, if not installed correctly, seats could become loose during an emergency landing, potentially injuring passengers and crew, blocking aisles, and slowing evacuations.
The proposed directive applies only to U.S.-registered aircraft, as the FAA does not regulate foreign carriers. However, regulators in other nations often follow FAA orders when the issue affects planes operating in their markets.
A Boeing spokesperson said the company issued guidance to operators on the matter in December 2025. “We support the FAA making that guidance mandatory,” the spokesperson said in an email.
The warning adds further pressure on Boeing's safety record, which has been under scrutiny for years. In January 2024, a cabin panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, forcing an emergency landing and prompting the FAA to ground 171 aircraft. Investigators later found the panel was missing four key bolts.
Scrutiny intensified after a series of other accidents worldwide, as well as the death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett in March 2024 while he was providing evidence for a safety lawsuit against the company. In June 2025, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said Boeing had failed to provide adequate training, guidance, and oversight to prevent the Alaska Airlines incident.
According to aviation consultancy and intelligence firm IBA, there are nearly 2,300 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operating globally, including 823 in the United States.
