FAA Orders Fix for Incorrectly Installed Seats on 453 Boeing 737 MAX Jets in US
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a directive requiring airlines to fix incorrectly installed seats on hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets registered in the United States. The directive, announced on Monday, July 27, 2026, follows a report that certain passenger seat assemblies were not correctly installed in the seat tracks.
The FAA's proposed airworthiness directive would apply to 453 U.S.-registered aircraft. The agency stated that if left uncorrected, the seats could injure passengers during an emergency landing. Each 737 MAX plane may have up to 69 track-mounted passenger seat assemblies, and the FAA estimates that each assembly will take about one work-hour to fix. The directive did not specify a timeline for repairs.
The FAA did not comment on whether international operators would be affected, though foreign carriers typically follow FAA directives when applicable. Boeing has not yet responded to requests for comment.
