I’m a flight attendant — here’s the ‘scary’ reason we sit on our hands

Asia Grace
·2 min read
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(Left) TikTok user and flight attendant Cebu Pacific Henny Lim, 29, and colleague in their jump seats. (Right) Close-up of Lim sitting on her hands in her jump seat.
On TikTok, Cebu Pacific flight attendant Henny Lim, 29, virally explained that she and her colleagues sit on their hands during takeoffs and landings as a safety measure to prevent physical harm in the case of an emergency.

Brace yourself for the turbulent truth.

Although they’re called the friendly skies, jet-setting off into the clouds can sometimes result in a bumpy ride.

But when trouble is afoot, assuming this position comes in handy for flight attendants.

“Ever wonder why [the] cabin crew sits [on their hands] during takeoff and landing?” asked Henny Lim, a flight attendant for Cebu Pacific in the Philippines, in a TikTok demo post. “It is called ‘bracing position.’”

Flight attendant Henny Lim virally explained why she and her colleagues sit on their hands during every departure and landing. TikTok / @_hennylim
Flight attendant Henny Lim virally explained why she and her colleagues sit on their hands during every departure and landing. TikTok / @_hennylim

In the clip, which has skyrocketed to more than 32,000 views, Lim, 29, unearthed the secrets of the fascinating safety procedure she and her colleagues follow to reduce the risk of bodily harm in the case of an emergency.

“This position involves fastening [your] seat belt securely, [sitting] upright, [sitting] on [your] hands — palms up, thumbs [tucked] and arms loose — and [placing your] feet flat on the floor,” explained the brunette. “The aim is to keep the body in a rigid pose, so that if there was any impact from an unplanned emergency, the body is damaged less.”

Lim and a co-worker demonstrated the specialized posturing, strapping themselves into their seats, tucking their hands beneath their undercarriages and tightening up their forms.

Despite their safety measures, a number of flight attendants have recently sustained injuries during unexpectedly rocky landings. Markus Mainka – stock.adobe.com
Despite their safety measures, a number of flight attendants have recently sustained injuries during unexpectedly rocky landings. Markus Mainka – stock.adobe.com

“This keeps body movement restricted so that there is less chance of injury if there was an impact,” she informed, adding that the cabin crew isn’t just sitting on their hands amid the midair chaos.

“During this time, [we] will also be going through [a] silent review, which prepares [us] for an emergency situation [during] every takeoff and landing,” said Lim. “This includes being aware of emergency equipment in the location, door operations, commands given and any visual clues outside [of] the aircraft.”

And while online onlookers were stunned by the shocking reveal, folks pitied the frequent flyers for the “scary” stress of having to constantly prepare for a crash — which has rendered several sky-high staffers in need of serious medical attention.

An unnamed Southwest Airlines attendant suffered a broken back during a rough touchdown on the runway at Orange County, California’s John Wayne Airport in July 2022.

And at the top of 2024, a whopping five American Airlines cabin crew members, as well as one passenger, were rushed to the hospital with minor injuries after a “hard landing” at Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii, in January.

The airline released a statement following the incident, saying: “The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority.”