Attentive travelers may have noticed that as soon as crew members sit down in their seats and fasten their seat belts, they tuck their hands under their thighs or place them palm down on their legs. Although it looks from the outside like they are simply sitting on their hands, this is actually a very specific safety procedure, according to the Daily Express.
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Katherine Drossos, an experienced flight attendant and flight manager at Cirrus Aviation Services, told Travel + Leisure magazine that this pose is intended to ensure maximum alertness: “What passengers often perceive as ‘sitting on their hands’ is actually a consciously chosen brace position. Crew members sit upright in their reclined seats, feet firmly planted on the floor, with their arms secured on their thighs or under their legs.”
The expert explained: “This posture stabilizes the body, reduces the risk of injury during sudden movements or turbulence, and ensures that the hands will be immediately free if evacuation or safety actions need to be initiated.”
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While sitting in this position, crew members mentally review the safety procedures list, recall emergency exits, and other important information. It is in this position that they are focused and alert. Although it may seem unusual, there is no need to worry – this is a standard procedure during every takeoff and landing. It also protects their hands from possible injuries in the unlikely event that something does happen.
Although airplanes are one of the safest means of transportation, if incidents do occur, they usually happen during takeoff or landing. Therefore, by protecting their hands in this specific pose, crew members preserve the ability to quickly open emergency exits.
