Flight attendants sit on their hands during takeoff and landing as part of a trained brace position that protects their arms from injury and keeps their bodies stable so they can respond quickly in an emergency. It reduces “flailing” of the limbs in a sudden impact and helps ensure they are immediately ready to help passengers if something goes wrong.

What the position actually is

  • The posture usually involves sitting upright, feet flat on the floor, back against the jumpseat, seatbelt tight, and hands placed under the thighs with palms facing up and thumbs tucked in.
  • This is considered a modified brace position for crew and is taught in formal airline safety training, not just a habit or comfort pose.

Main safety reasons

  • Prevents arm and hand injuries : In a sudden stop or impact, loose arms can fly forward and hit hard surfaces, leading to broken wrists, dislocated shoulders, or head injuries caused by the person’s own limbs.
  • Keeps the body stable : Sitting on the hands makes the upper body more rigid and compact, which helps limit movement and can reduce overall injury in high‑impact situations.

Ready to help passengers

  • Because their body is already braced and aligned, crew can unbuckle and move more efficiently right after an impact if evacuation or assistance is needed.
  • The repetition of this brace position on every takeoff and landing helps build muscle memory, so their reaction in a real emergency is automatic and fast.

Why passengers don’t do the same

  • Passengers are usually instructed to use a different brace position (bending forward, with head toward the seat in front and hands on the head or ankles), which is optimized for the way passenger seats and cabins are arranged.
  • Flight attendants face the cabin in jumpseats and need their hands positioned in a way that both protects them and allows them to immediately operate doors, exits, and safety equipment if needed.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.