The FAA has ordered airlines to remove a total of nearly
10,500 seats from aircraft because that seat model is unsafe.
In a final rule published in the Federal Register on Wednesday,
the agency said that the seats, made by Zodiac Seats California LLC, may cause
serious injury to the occupant during forward impacts. The FAA expressed a
particular concern about neck injuries.
The seats are found on Embraer 170s and 190s, Boeing 717s
and MD-90s and several Bombardier models.
The FAA estimates the compliance will cost airlines
$891,000. However, that estimate doesn’t include the cost of replacing the
seats.