A cabin crew member has revealed the reason why flight attendants sit with their hands tucked under their legs for take off and landing.
Air stewardess Henny Lim shared a video on social media platform TikTok explaining why, saying that flight attendants sit in the ‘bracing position’ so that ‘if there was any impact from an unplanned emergency, the body is less damaged’.
Alongside a filmed demonstration of the seating position, Lim explained it involves ‘fastening the seatbelt securely, sitting upright, sitting on hands, palms uprights, thumbs tucked and arms loose with feet on the floor’.
‘This keeps body movement restricted so that there is less chance of injury if there was an impact’, she noted.
Lim also explained that during the time in which flight attendants are seated in the bracing position, they have time do go through the ‘silent review’, which prepares crew members for an emergency situation.
‘This includes being aware of emergency equipment in the location, door operation, commands given and any visual clues outside the aircraft’, explained.
The video has now garnered more than 32,000 views, with many social media users thanking her for her explanation.
‘Good info. Always preparing for a crash is scary though’, one viewer commented.
A cabin crew member has revealed the reason why flight attendants sit with their hands tucked under their legs for take off and landing
Air stewardess Henny Lim said that flight attendants sit in the ‘bracing position’ so that ‘if there was any impact from an unplanned emergency, the body is less damaged’
‘Thanks for the info’, another said.
It comes after flight attendant turned author T.J. Newman shared a number of safety tips from her flying days.
Firstly, the aviator said the first safety measure everyone can adopt is to buckle up.
She explained: ‘If you’re in your seat, your seatbelt should be buckled up at all times.
‘Just look at any of the incredible videos of severe turbulence that have been in the news recently.
‘In situations like that, most of the injuries would have been avoided if the passengers had been wearing their seatbelts.’
While they might seem like they are nagging, T.J. said it is always ‘imperative to comply with crew member instructions’ and they are onboard ‘for one reason: safety.’
Along with securing your seatbelt, the writer added other instructions crew might serve up before takeoff include stowing your bag properly, having your seat back in an upright position, and securing your tray table.
While all planes might seem the same, T.J. highlighted that the configurations can vary wildly, with exit doors in different places and rows following different layouts.
For this reason, it is important to ‘review the safety information card’ on each aircraft, each time you fly, she added.
The globetrotter revealed ‘I flew as a flight attendant for a decade and as a passenger now, even I still review the card before every takeoff.’
The video has now garnered more than 32,000 views, with many social media users thanking her for her explanation
T.J. added: ‘Familiarize yourself with that plane’s exits and emergency equipment, then, in the unlikely event of an evacuation, you won’t hesitate.
‘You’ll already know which direction to go.
‘The difference in those seconds might just save your life.’
Lastly, if there is a real emergency, T.J.’s top piece of advice is to ‘leave everything.’
The New York Times bestseller, who worked as a flight attendant for 10 years, concluded: ‘If you do have to evacuate an aircraft, time is everything.
‘Do not stop to get a bag. Nothing is more important that your life and the lives of your fellow passengers. Leave everything and get off the plane.’
