Surprising reason flight attendants sit on their hands

If you’ve ever flown on a commercial airplane, you may have noticed something curious – flight attendants sitting on their hands during takeoff and landing. It might seem like an unusual habit, but it’s actually a safety strategy designed to protect both crew members and passengers.

In air travel, flight attendants do much more than serve refreshments and ensure passenger comfort. They are highly trained safety professionals, responsible for managing in-flight emergencies and ensuring the well-being of everyone onboard.

Among the many protocols they follow, one stands out to many passengers – the bracing position that flight attendants assume during takeoff and landing.

A flight attendant, Henny Lim, who works for the Philippines-based airline Cebu Pacific, recently went viral on TikTok after shedding light on this lesser-known in-flight procedure.

In her video, she asks: “Ever wonder why cabin crew sits like this during takeoff and landing?” The video starts, showing the flight attendant taking the “bracing position” in her jump seat.

During critical phases of flight – takeoff and landing – the risk of an incident is statistically higher and if an evacuation is necessary, the bracing position allows cabin crew members to quickly act.

“This position involves fastening seatbelts securely, sitting upright, sitting on hands – arms up, thumbs tucked – and arms loose, and feet flat on the floor,” the voiceover continues in the clip that recently resurfaced after it was first posted in 2022.

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