In the world of air travel, flight attendants do much more than serve drinks and snacks—they are highly trained safety professionals, responsible for the well-being of all passengers. Among the many safety protocols they follow, one unusual practice often catches the eye: flight attendants sitting on their hands during takeoff and landing. While it may look odd to the average traveler, there is an important reason behind this procedure.
Image Credit: @_hennylim_ TikTok
Let’s explore the purpose of this practice and how it plays a critical role in ensuring safety during flights.
The Bracing Position Explained by a Flight Attendant
If you’ve ever noticed flight attendants buckling up in their jump seats and adopting a particular posture—sitting on their hands as the plane takes off or prepares to land—you might wonder what they’re doing. In a viral TikTok video, Cebu Pacific flight attendant Henny Lim sheds light on this often-overlooked protocol.
According to Lim, the posture flight attendants take, known as the bracing position, involves several key actions:
Fastening seatbelts securely
Sitting upright
Placing hands on their thighs with thumbs tucked in
Keeping arms relaxed
Ensuring their feet are flat on the floor
While this position may seem strange to passengers, it’s designed to serve a crucial purpose, especially in the event of an emergency.
Purpose of the Bracing Position
The main goal of the bracing position is to minimize movement and reduce the risk of injury if a crash or emergency landing occurs. During an impact, bodies can be thrown forward with significant force, leading to dangerous, uncontrolled movements, or flailing, which increases the risk of injury. By sitting on their hands and securing themselves, flight attendants limit their body’s motion and protect their limbs from potential harm.
Additionally, flight attendants use this time to mentally prepare for emergency scenarios. As Lim explains, this involves conducting a “silent review” where they mentally go over safety procedures, emergency exits, equipment, and commands. This mental preparation ensures they can act swiftly and effectively in the event of an emergency, prioritizing passenger safety at all times.
Before she passed away, Grandma asked me to clean the photo on her headstone a year after her death — when I finally did, I was amazed by what I discovered
This story is deeply moving—a beautiful portrayal of love, family, and the powerful choice that defines our bonds. Grandma Patty’s gentle yet profound way of teaching life’s lessons, through simple, magical moments like their sidewalk adventures or cookie-baking sessions, builds such a vivid picture of her warmth and wisdom. Her final message, hidden behind the headstone photo, feels like the ultimate act of love—a treasure hunt to pass down the legacy of chosen family and intentional love.
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The cardinal as a symbol of her spirit and presence is such a beautiful touch, too, tying together memory, loss, and a sense of Grandma’s lasting presence. And through it all, the rituals and phrases they continue in her memory underscore the depth of her influence, even after her passing. The piece overall is such a tender, profound exploration of legacy, grief, and love that goes beyond life itself.
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