American Airlines emergency landing, seats become loose mid-flight

An American Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport on Saturday night after a row of seats became unbolted from the floor.

ABC News reported the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, which occurred on a Boeing 757 aircraft which was flying from Boston to Miami. 

With fears that the seats could have gone airborne, particularly if there was turbulence, the flight had to be grounded.

The New York Post reported it is the latest in a string of problems for American Airlines, which is also battling employee issues, cancellations, and bankruptcy. 

Aviation officials told The Post the situation with the loose seats was highly dangerous.

"The seats were completely not attached,” said Sam Mayer, a New York-based AA pilot and spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association.

“With turbulence, you have to be cautious. That’s why everyone has to stow everything under the seat to prevent loose objects from flying around the cabin — and you’ve got a whole row of seats unbolted,” Mayer said.

In July, an American Airlines flight headed to Los Angeles has landed safely in Miami after reporting a problem with cabin pressure, Fox News reported.

That same month, turbelence left 12 people injured on an American Airlines flight.