If you’ve ever been on a commercial airline, you may have seen something unusual: flight attendants sitting on their hands during takeoff and landing. It may appear to be a weird habit, but it is actually a safety precaution intended to safeguard both crew and passengers.

Flight attendants do much more than offer drinks and maintain passenger comfort. They are highly qualified safety specialists in charge of dealing with in-flight incidents and assuring everyone’s safety on board.

Among the various regulations they follow, many passengers notice the bracing stance that flight attendants take during takeoff and landing.

Henny Lim, a flight attendant with the Philippines-based airline Cebu Pacific, recently became popular on TikTok after shedding light on this lesser-known flying protocol.

In the video, she wonders, “Ever wonder why cabin crew sits like this during takeoff and landing?” The video begins with the flight attendant assuming the “bracing position” in her jump seat.

During key stages of flight, such as takeoff and landing, the chance of an incident increases, and if an evacuation is required, the bracing posture allows cabin crew members to respond fast.

“This position entails fastening seatbelts securely, sitting upright, sitting on hands—arms up, thumbs tucked—and arms loose, and feet flat on the floor,” the narrator adds in the video, which has just resurrected after being first released in 2022.

In the video, Henny and another cabin staff member show how they strap into their jump seats, tucking their hands behind their legs to keep their arms and hands stable and safe. This avoids involuntary movements induced by turbulence, harsh landings, or rapid impacts, which might cause a delay in response time.

“The goal is to maintain a rigid posture to minimize damage in the event of an unexpected emergency.”This restricts bodily mobility, reducing the risk of harm in the event of an impact.

@_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

“During this time, [your flight attendants] will also be going through the “silent review,” which prepares them for an emergency situation every time they take off and land.”

The video begins with a warning to viewers, “Safe flight everyone.”

A seasoned flight attendant told Reader’s Digest that sitting on hands is a question of personal taste rather than policy.

“We do need to place our hands correctly as part of the brace posture, and I suppose you could sit on your hands if you wish.” The flight attendant rule is simply that you cannot hold on to the harness,” explained Erin Thomas, who has been flying for more than 15 years. “Being in the brace position is the important part.”

Thomas said that she loves to keep her hands on her lap. “I think it makes me look calm,” she explains, “and passengers will feed off our energy, so if we’re calm during takeoff, they will be too.”

While this stance may appear inflexible, it serves an important purpose in preventing crew members from damage and allowing them to assist passengers right away.

Do you know why flight attendants sit on their hands? Please let us know what you think about this story.