Hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets face cabin safety risks and assembly flaws, FAA warns

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Monday that hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets registered in the US may require inspections due to incorrectly installed passenger seat assemblies. This issue, if uncorrected, could lead to passenger and crew injuries during emergency landings or obstruct aisles, hindering evacuations. The proposed airworthiness directive applies to 453 US-registered jets, though foreign regulators often adopt similar directives. Boeing, which issued guidance on this issue in December 2025, stated, "We support the FAA making that guidance mandatory." This development follows earlier production quality concerns in 2024 after a door-plug panel detached from an Alaska Air 737 MAX in flight.