Why Flight Attendants Always Sit on Their Hands During Takeoff and Landing

""What passengers often interpret as cabin hosts 'sitting on their hands' is actually a deliberate brace-ready position. Cabin hosts sit upright in the jump seat with feet flat on the floor and hands secured on their thighs or beneath the legs," Drossos says. "This posture stabilizes the body, minimizes the risk of injury during sudden movement or turbulence, and ensures hands are immediately available to respond if an evacuation or safety action is required.""

"Part of that preparation involves the safety briefing. We're all familiar with the script covering seat belt usage, oxygen masks, and how to find your life vest in case of an emergency water landing. Upon takeoff-and then again at landing-you may also notice the cabin crew taking a certain position while seated. After buckling in, they either sit with their hands beneath their thighs or rest their palms face down on their legs."

Cabin crew secure the cabin and prepare passengers during takeoff and landing, the most critical phases of flight. Crew deliver safety briefings covering seat belt use, oxygen masks, and life vests. After passengers buckle, crew take a brace-ready posture by sitting upright in jump seats with feet flat and hands secured on or beneath their thighs, or palms face down on legs. That posture stabilizes the body, reduces injury risk during sudden movement or turbulence, and keeps hands immediately available for evacuations or other safety actions. Hand placement can vary by airline or aircraft type, but the purpose remains stability, alertness, and readiness.

Read at Travel + Leisure