Why Flight Attendants Sit on Their Hands During Takeoff and Landing — The Real Reason Might Surprise You
Ever noticed how flight attendants buckle into their seats before takeoff and landing — and then sit on their hands? It turns out there’s a serious reason behind this unusual position, and it’s all about safety.
Henny Lim, a flight attendant with the Philippines-based airline Cebu Pacific, recently explained the reasoning behind this habit in a TikTok video that quickly caught attention online.
The pose is called the “bracing position,” and it’s a standard procedure followed by cabin crew members around the world.
“This position involves fastening seatbelts securely, sitting upright, sitting on hands – arms up, thumbs tucked – and arms loose, with feet flat on the floor,” Lim explained.
Why do they do this?
In the event of an unexpected impact, the bracing position helps minimize injury by reducing body movement and limiting the chances of flailing.
The position also keeps the arms and thumbs protected from injury.
But that’s not all. While sitting in this position, flight attendants also perform a “silent review,” mentally going over emergency procedures — including door operations, available equipment, commands to use, and how to react in different emergency situations.
This ensures they’re fully prepared to respond quickly if something goes wrong.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the bracing position serves two main purposes:
✔ Reducing flailing in case of impact
✔ Minimizing secondary injuries if passengers or crew collide with the aircraft’s structure
Henny isn’t the only flight attendant sharing these important insights.
@_hennylim_ Why do cabin crew sit on their hands while in their jumpseats? Check this video out to know! Special guest for today’s video: Clare demecillo Follow my Official Facebook Page: “Henny Joyce Lim” Follow me on Instagram: _hennylim_ #fyp #HJL #cabincrewlife #bracingposition #cebupacific #groundstop ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim
Flight attendant Esther Sturrus, with more than 220,000 followers on TikTok, often gives tips for passengers on how to stay comfortable and safe while traveling — from how to be a great passenger to keeping clothes fresh on long trips.
So the next time you fly, remember — the flight attendants aren’t just sitting still.
They’re actively preparing to keep you safe.
✈ Wishing everyone safe and smooth travels! ✈
SHARE this with your friends and family to help spread the word about air travel safety.
