Overview
- The FAA filed a notice of proposed rulemaking this week that would require detailed inspections of every left‑ and right‑side track‑mounted passenger seat assembly on select 737 MAX 8, MAX 9 and MAX 8200 aircraft.
- Regulators say a report showed some aft fitting shear plungers were not correctly lowered and engaged in the seat tracks, which could allow seats to disengage during heavy loads, turbulence, or an emergency landing and injure people or block aisles.
- The proposed directive covers 453 U.S.‑registered MAX jets and up to 69 track‑mounted seat assemblies per aircraft, with inspections estimated at about one work hour and $85 per seat and repairs typically taking a further hour without parts.
- Boeing issued guidance to operators on December 10, 2025 and supports making that guidance mandatory; the FAA says Boeing has indicated some or all inspection costs may be covered under warranty, and the NPRM is open for comment until September 10, 2026.
- Major U.S. carriers that operate large MAX fleets, including United and Southwest, will be affected and foreign regulators often mirror FAA actions, which matters because the MAX has faced heightened scrutiny after earlier safety and production incidents such as the 2024 Alaska Airlines door‑plug event.