Flying high in the sky might sound smooth, but sometimes, it’s anything but.
When things get rough up there, flight attendants have a unique trick up their sleeves – the “bracing position.”
Have you ever wondered why flight attendants sit a certain way during takeoff and landing? Henny Lim, a flight attendant with Cebu Pacific in the Philippines, explained it in a TikTok video that’s gone viral with over 31,000 views.
In the clip, Lim, 29, revealed the secrets behind the safety procedure she and her colleagues follow to minimize injury in emergencies.
“This position involves securely fastening your seatbelt, sitting upright, placing your hands on your thighs with palms up and thumbs tucked, and keeping your feet flat on the floor,” she explained. “The goal is to keep the body rigid so that if there’s an unexpected impact, the body is less likely to be injured.”
Lim and a coworker demonstrated the specialized posture, strapping themselves into their seats and adopting the bracing position.
“This restricts body movement to reduce the risk of injury in case of impact,” Lim added. And it’s not just about sitting still. During this time, flight attendants silently review emergency procedures, including knowing the location of emergency equipment, understanding door operations, following commands, and observing outside visual cues.
While online viewers were surprised by the revelation, some felt sympathy for frequent flyers who constantly have to prepare for the worst – a crash landing that can lead to severe injuries.
In recent incidents, a Southwest Airlines attendant broke her back during a rough landing at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport in July 2022, while in January 2024, five American Airlines cabin crew members and one passenger were hospitalized with minor injuries after a hard landing at Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii. The airline emphasized that safety is their top priority in a statement following the incident.
