In the world of air travel, flight attendants do much more than serve drinks and snacks—they are highly trained safety professionals, responsible for the well-being of all passengers. Among the many safety protocols they follow, one unusual practice often catches the eye: flight attendants sitting on their hands during takeoff and landing. While it may look odd to the average traveler, there is an important reason behind this procedure.
Image Credit: @_hennylim_ TikTok
Let’s explore the purpose of this practice and how it plays a critical role in ensuring safety during flights.
The Bracing Position Explained by a Flight Attendant
If you’ve ever noticed flight attendants buckling up in their jump seats and adopting a particular posture—sitting on their hands as the plane takes off or prepares to land—you might wonder what they’re doing. In a viral TikTok video, Cebu Pacific flight attendant Henny Lim sheds light on this often-overlooked protocol.
According to Lim, the posture flight attendants take, known as the bracing position, involves several key actions:
Fastening seatbelts securely
Sitting upright
Placing hands on their thighs with thumbs tucked in
Keeping arms relaxed
Ensuring their feet are flat on the floor
While this position may seem strange to passengers, it’s designed to serve a crucial purpose, especially in the event of an emergency.
Purpose of the Bracing Position
The main goal of the bracing position is to minimize movement and reduce the risk of injury if a crash or emergency landing occurs. During an impact, bodies can be thrown forward with significant force, leading to dangerous, uncontrolled movements, or flailing, which increases the risk of injury. By sitting on their hands and securing themselves, flight attendants limit their body’s motion and protect their limbs from potential harm.
Additionally, flight attendants use this time to mentally prepare for emergency scenarios. As Lim explains, this involves conducting a “silent review” where they mentally go over safety procedures, emergency exits, equipment, and commands. This mental preparation ensures they can act swiftly and effectively in the event of an emergency, prioritizing passenger safety at all times.
Tom Hanks Shocks Fans with Polarizing SNL Cameo
Tom Hanks has ignited backlash from Donald Trump supporters following his appearance in a politically charged sketch on Saturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary special.
On February 16, a star-studded lineup, including Meryl Streep, Martin Short, Jack Nicholson, and Aubrey Plaza, gathered in New York to celebrate five decades of the iconic sketch comedy show.
Hanks, known for his legendary Hollywood career, participated in a skit that didn’t sit well with some Trump supporters. During a parody game show segment, Black Jeopardy, the Forrest Gump star played a character named Doug—sporting a red “Make America Great Again” hat.
At one point in the sketch, host Kenan Thompson extended a handshake to Doug, who hesitated before finally shaking hands, saying, “Not a fan of that, whoa, whoa, whoa. Maybe I should make a show for you and call it White Jeopardy.”
The moment quickly drew criticism online, with some viewers accusing SNL of mocking Trump voters. One social media user wrote, “Tom Hanks went on SNL looking rough, making fun of millions of Trump supporters—portraying them as ignorant, racist country bumpkins. Keep it up, leftists. You’ll never win another election.”
Link Lauren, a former adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also weighed in, tweeting: “Tom Hanks just played a MAGA supporter hesitant to shake a Black man’s hand on SNL. And they wonder why their ratings keep tanking. Trump won the majority vote. This outdated narrative that MAGA is racist is ridiculous. SNL is an unfunny show for elitist liberals.”
Other Trump supporters echoed similar frustrations, with one saying, “Nobody in the audience even laughed,” while another added, “This makes me so mad. SNL just painted all MAGA supporters as racists.”
What do you think about Hanks’ SNL appearance? Share your thoughts!
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