U.S. Regulator Says Airlines Should Check Seat Installation on Some Boeing Models — 2nd Update

By Joshua Kirby

Operators of Boeing passenger airplanes should inspect the seats on certain models, which might have been improperly installed and could prove dangerous in case of an emergency landing, the U.S. aviation authority said.

In a proposed airworthiness directive published Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration said it had received a report that seats on some of the aircraft maker's models were not correctly installed in their seat tracks. The proposed directive would require a "detailed inspection" of the seat installation, the FAA said.

"A track-mounted passenger seat assembly that is installed incorrectly can disengage from the seat tracks if there is an increased load, turbulence, or emergency landing," the FAA said. "This condition, if not addressed, could result in injury to passengers and crew during an emergency landing or could block the aisle, which could slow evacuation."

Boeing said it welcomed the FAA making its guidance to operators on the inspections mandatory. The company is due to report financial results for the second quarter later Tuesday.

The proposal concerns three models in the popular 737 family of passenger jets used by major U.S. airlines as well as international customers like Ireland's Ryanair and International Consolidated Airlines, owner of British Airways and Spain's Iberia. In the U.S., the proposed inspection would affect 453 airplanes, incurring a total cost on American operators of around $2.7 million before any re-installation costs, the FAA said.

Boeing jets have been involved in some high-profile safety issues. Earlier this month, a passenger was partially sucked out of a Boeing 737 operated by Ryanair after an engine issue and a dislodged window caused the cabin to depressurize. The pilots made an emergency landing in Greece, from where the flight had taken off, and the 61-year-old passenger survived. Two years ago, dozens of 737s were temporarily grounded after part of an Alaska Airlines airplane ripped away in midair, leading to a proposed FAA fine of more than $3 million for what the authority described as safety violations.

Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 28, 2026 06:45 ET (10:45 GMT)