The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed mandatory inspections for hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after discovering that some passenger seats may have been installed incorrectly.
In a proposed airworthiness directive issued on Monday, the FAA said the inspections would affect 453 Boeing 737 MAX jets registered in the United States.
The agency warned that improperly installed seat assemblies could detach from their tracks during severe turbulence or an emergency landing, potentially injuring passengers and crew or blocking aisles during an evacuation.
According to the FAA, it received reports indicating that some passenger seat assemblies had not been correctly secured to the seat tracks.
The agency estimated that each aircraft could have up to 69 track-mounted passenger seat assemblies requiring inspection. Inspecting each seat is expected to take about one hour, with another hour needed to fix any faulty installation. No replacement parts are expected to be required.
While the FAA’s directive applies only to US-registered aircraft, aviation regulators in other countries often adopt similar measures where applicable.
The proposed directive comes as Boeing continues efforts to improve manufacturing quality under chief executive Kelly Ortberg, following heightened scrutiny after a door plug panel detached from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX during a flight in early 2024.
A Boeing spokesperson said the company had already issued guidance to airlines on the issue in December 2025 and supports the FAA’s move to make the inspections mandatory.
The FAA has not yet announced a deadline for airlines to complete the inspections and any necessary repairs.
