Flight attendants sitting on their hands during takeoff and landing is an odd sight for anyone who has ever flown on a commercial aircraft. Although it may appear to be an odd habit, it is essentially a safety measure meant to keep passengers and staff safe.
Flight attendants are responsible for much more than just providing beverages and making sure passengers are comfortable when flying. They are highly qualified safety experts in charge of handling in-flight crises and making sure everyone is safe.
The bracing position that flight attendants adopt during takeoff and landing is one of the many procedures they adhere to that many passengers find particularly noteworthy.
Henny Lim, a flight attendant for Cebu Pacific, a Philippine airline, recently became popular on TikTok after bringing attention to this little-known in-flight protocol.
“Have you ever wondered why cabin crew sit like this during takeoff and landing?” she poses in her video. The flight attendant may be seen adopting the “bracing position” in her jump seat at the beginning of the film.
The bracing posture enables cabin crew members to respond promptly in the event of an evacuation, which is statistically more likely to occur during the crucial takeoff and landing phases of flight.
The narration of the clip, which was first posted in 2022, continues, “This position involves fastening seatbelts securely, sitting upright, sitting on hands – arms up, thumbs tucked – and arms loose, and feet flat on the floor.”
Hands clasped together
In order to keep their arms and hands firm and safe, Henny and another member of the cabin crew show in the video how they strap into their jump seats and tuck their hands beneath their legs. Involuntary movements brought on by turbulence, harsh landings, or abrupt collisions are avoided, which could slow down their reaction time.
The goal is to maintain the body in a stiff position to minimize injury in the event of an unforeseen emergency.This limits body movement, reducing the possibility of harm in the event of an impact.
“Your flight attendants will also be undergoing the’silent review,’ which equips them to handle any emergency situation during every takeoff and landing, during this time.”
The words “…Safe flight everyone” are said before the video begins.
“Not a regulation”
According to a seasoned flight attendant who spoke with Reader’s Digest, sitting on hands is a question of personal preference rather than law.
As part of the brace position, we do need to appropriately position our hands. If you’d want, you could sit on your hands. Erin Thomas, a flight attendant with over 15 years of experience, stated, “The rule is simply that you can’t hold on to the harness.” “The most important thing is to be in the brace position.”
She likes to keep her hands on her lap, Thomas revealed. “I think it makes me look calm,” she says, adding that passengers will pick up on our calmness during takeoff.
Although this position may appear inflexible, it is essential for preventing injuries to crew members and enabling them to help passengers right away.
The reason why flight attendants sit on their hands may surprise you. Tell us what you think of this tale, please!
