More than 400 Boeing 737 MAX planes in the US are at risk due to a manufacturing defect that could cause seats to come loose during emergencies, officials have warned. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that seats on 453 Boeing aircraft may not have been installed correctly.
The agency warned that improperly installed seats could become loose during turbulence, potentially injuring passengers or crew, hindering an emergency landing, obstructing the aisle, or causing delays during an emergency evacuation. The directive requires “a detailed inspection of the seat track fittings of each left and right side track-mounted passenger seat assembly for correct installation,” the FAA said.
While the FAA's authority applies to US airlines, foreign regulators typically adopt similar directives. It was not immediately clear if any of the nearly 2,300 737 MAX aircraft in service globally, outside the 823 in the US, are impacted.
A Boeing spokesperson confirmed the company issued guidance to operators about the problem in December 2025 and supports the FAA making that guidance mandatory.