Why Flight Attendants Sit On Their Hands When in the Jumpseat

Have you ever noticed flight attendants sitting on their hands during takeoff and landing? As a curious passenger, I was once intrigued by this seemingly unusual position until I realized it was a common practice among flight attendants. Safety is a top priority on any flight, and flight attendants take every precaution to ensure that passengers and crew members are safe, even during takeoff and landing. This includes the seemingly rigid position of flight attendants in their jumpseats. Allow me to share why flight attendants sit on their hands while they are on the jumpseat.

But why do flight attendants sit on their hands during takeoff and landing? The answer is simple – it’s a safety measure. The brace position for flight attendants is different from the passenger brace position, and it’s designed to keep their bodies in a rigid pose to minimize injury in the event of an emergency. Flight attendants are seated with their backs and necks firmly against the jumpseat, their knees and feet together, and their feet placed firmly on the ground. Their hands are placed either on top of their knees or under their thighs, with their elbows held inward.

This position restricts body movement, reducing the chances of injury in the event of an impact. Flight attendants seated facing forward towards the cockpit should have their feet slightly positioned behind their knees, while those facing backward towards the aircraft tail would have their feet slightly forward. There is also a variation for the forward-facing cabin crew that involves tipping their chin to the chest to protect against whiplash injury.

When Is This Done?

These safety-critical moments are when the cabin crew take their positions on their jumpseats, as instructed by the captain. The aim is to keep the body in a rigid pose, in case of any impact from an unplanned emergency, which could damage the body less. The brace position for cabin crew varies depending on the airline safety procedures and the region, but all are very similar, yet completely different from that of the passenger brace position.

During takeoff and landing, cabin crew members need to be seated with their back and neck firmly against the jumpseat, knees and feet together, and feet placed firmly on the ground. The hands are placed either on top of the knees or under the thighs, elbows held inwards. This keeps body movement restricted so that there is less chance of injury if there was an impact.

The cabin crew usually take this position from when they lock into their crew seat until the signal from the flight deck that it is safe for the cabin crew to move around the aircraft. During this time, they will also be going through the ‘silent review’, which prepares them for an emergency situation, every take-off and landing. This includes being aware of emergency equipment in the location, the door operation, commands given, able-bodied passengers nearby, and any visual clues outside the aircraft.

Another Variation for Forward-Facing Crew

There is another variation for the forward-facing cabin crew that involves tipping their chin to the chest, which may protect against whiplash injury. Those facing backward would have their feet slightly forward. In a planned emergency landing, the final cabin crew brace position involves keeping the lower body the same, but one hand is on top of the other and placed behind the head, with elbows held inwards. This allows for the cabin crew to still be able to hear and shout emergency commands whilst protecting the face and head from any flying debris.

While these positions may sound complicated, they are taught during cabin crew training. Often working in different aircraft types and sitting in both kinds of jump seats at different doors, it just becomes everyday practice. Some crew members even do this when flying as passengers, just because it’s an automatic movement. However, when operating an aircraft in colder climes, it does also help to warm frozen fingers.

Flight attendants sit on their hands in the jumpseat during takeoff and landing to protect their bodies from impact in case of an emergency. It is a part of their training and helps ensure their safety during these critical moments.