The FAA has proposed an airworthiness directive for certain Boeing 737 models to mandate inspections of passenger seat installations. [Credit: Boeing]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA has proposed an airworthiness directive (AD) for tens of thousands of seats on Boeing 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 aircraft due to incorrect installation, posing a risk of seats disengaging during severe turbulence or emergency landings.
The issue stems from "aft fitting shear plungers" not being correctly lowered and engaged in the seat tracks, which could lead to injury or impede evacuation.
The proposed AD requires detailed inspections of seat-track fittings, with an estimated compliance cost of over $2.6 million, though Boeing states some costs may be covered under warranty.
Boeing supports the FAA's AD, having previously issued guidance to operators and updated manufacturing processes to ensure correct installation, noting many affected aircraft have already been inspected.
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.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![The FAA has proposed an airworthiness directive for certain Boeing 737 models to mandate inspections of passenger seat installations. [Credit: Boeing]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-05-at-3.42.22-PM.png)
