The FAA has mandated inspections of pilot seats on 158 Boeing 787s registered in the U.S. and 737 worldwide due to reports of uncontrolled forward movement of the captain's seat.

This directive follows a March incident involving a Latam Airlines flight that experienced a sudden loss of altitude, injuring about fifty passengers.

The U.S. aviation regulator emphasized that involuntary and prolonged seat movement could lead to abrupt flight control manipulation, potentially resulting in rapid descent and severe injury to passengers and cabin crew.

Since the March incident, the FAA has received four additional reports of similar cockpit seat malfunctions, indicating a troubling trend.

The FAA identified loose rocker switch caps on cockpit seats as the cause of three of these incidents, while two other cases are still under investigation.

Boeing has expressed full support for the FAA's directive regarding the inspections and is working to address the safety concerns.

This scrutiny comes as Boeing continues to face challenges related to safety, including the fallout from two fatal crashes of the 737 Max in 2018 and 2019.

Amid these ongoing issues, Robert Kelly Ortberg was appointed as Boeing's new CEO on August 8 to help restore production quality and address financial challenges.

In June, Boeing discovered hundreds of improperly installed fasteners on some undelivered 787 jets, further complicating the company's quality control issues.

Boeing is also facing challenges with its 777X model development, having suspended test flights due to issues with the connection between the engine and wings.

The FAA suspects that a pilot seat issue caused a rapid altitude loss on a Boeing 787 in March, resulting in one death and multiple injuries.

Boeing stated that it will replace the damaged components and resume test flights once ready, keeping the FAA and airlines informed about the situation.