Sliding Seats Force Plane to Land at JFK

Passengers on an American Airlines flight from Boston to Miami faced an unusual airline threat: A row of seats was "completely not attached," says a pilot with the airline. The sliding seats prompted an emergency landing at JFK Airport. The row "became unbolted from the floor," the spokesman says. "It’s a head-scratcher, the first time I’ve heard of it in 24 years with American." Other rows were also fastened incorrectly, the New York Post reports.

Sources to the Post say the shoddy work was likely a result of newly subcontracted inspections and maintenance. Though the crew learned of the problem shortly after departure, the Boeing 757 was too far from Logan Airport in Boston to return. But with an almost-full fuel tank, the plane had to make what's known as a "heavy" landing, requiring the presence of a crash emergency response unit. (More American Airlines stories.)