While passengers settle into their seats awaiting departure, the flight crew continuously works to ensure safety. During the two most sensitive phases of a flight—takeoff and landing—flight attendants adopt a specific seating position that often piques the curiosity of many.

Flight attendants' seating position during takeoff and landing. Photo: Travel + Leisure

Flight attendants' seating position during takeoff and landing. Photo: Travel + Leisure

This specific posture is crucial for their role. According to Katherine Drossos, a flight attendant and flight supervisor at Cirrus Aviation Services, flight attendants must ensure the cabin is securely fixed, passengers are properly seated, briefed, and prepared for incidents during these critical flight moments.

"This helps them focus optimally on safety during the most sensitive times", Drossos said.

Beyond the safety briefing on seatbelts, oxygen masks, and life vests, passengers may observe flight attendants sitting upright in jump seats, with feet flat on the floor and hands secured on their laps or under their legs during takeoff and landing.

Many perceive flight attendants to be "sitting on their hands", but Drossos clarifies this is a readiness posture outlined in safety training. This position stabilizes the body, reducing injury risk during sudden movements or turbulence. It also ensures their hands are ready to perform emergency procedures, such as passenger evacuation.

While hand positions or overall postures may vary slightly by airline or aircraft type, the core objective remains constant: maintaining alertness, stability, and quick responsiveness during critical flight moments.

Flight attendant shares seating position during takeoff and landing. Video: Wings

In this position, flight attendants also silently review safety procedures, identify emergency exit locations, memorize commands, and recall their duties for evacuation. This serves as a "silent checklist" before the aircraft departs or touches the runway.

Passengers are not required to adopt a similar position. However, to ensure safety during takeoff and landing, passengers should pay attention to crew instructions, carefully read the safety card in the seat pocket, always fasten their seatbelts, and keep their seatbacks in an upright position during these two critical phases.

Tuan Anh (According to Travel + Leisure)