The FAA has released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for an airworthiness directive (AD) aimed at tens of thousands of seats on Boeing 737s because they may have been installed incorrectly and could come loose in severe turbulence.
FLYING obtained a copy of the proposed AD, which affects 453 Boeing model 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 airplanes.
“This proposed AD was prompted by a report that certain passenger seat assemblies were not correctly installed in the seat tracks,” the AD reads. “The aft fitting shear plungers were not correctly lowered and not engaged in the seat tracks. 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. 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.”
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The AD requires a detailed inspection of the seat-track fittings of each left- and right-side, track-mounted passenger seat assembly for correct installation, and applicable on-condition actions.
The FAA estimates the cost of complying with the AD, which will take one hour per seat assembly at $85 per hour, at $2,656,845. That figure may change depending on how many track-mounted seat assemblies there are on each aircraft. The agency notes there could be up to 69 track-mounted passenger seat assemblies per airplane.
Airlines may not be the ones footing the bill for the inspections and repairs. Per the AD, Boeing said “some or all of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.”
“Boeing issued guidance to operators on this in December 2025,” a Boeing spokesman said in a statement. “We support the FAA making that guidance mandatory.”
It was acknowledged that the majority of the aircraft presently in service have gone through necessary inspection and the aerospace manufacturing giant has “updated the processes to ensure these installations are inspected prior to delivery.”
The FAA must receive comments on the proposed AD by September 10.