American Airlines Cancels Flights to Fix Seats

American Airlines passengers will soon once again be able to sit tight before they fasten their seat belts. The airline has canceled nearly a hundred flights to fix the loose seat problem that has hit three flights this week, forcing them to make emergency landings after entire rows of seats started sliding, the AP reports. Some 48 Boeing 757s that had recently been refurbished are being taken out of service for repairs.

The airline, which initially said the problem was a clamp used to attach seats to the aircraft floor, now says a combination of wear and tear, poor design, and even drink spillage caused the seats to come loose. "The fundamental design of this seat is not as robust as some of the latest designs," an airline spokesman says. The fix, which takes around two hours per aircraft, is a "longer-term resolution." (More loose seats stories.)