This plane maintenance photo might freak you out but there's a very normal explanation for it

At first glance, it looks like something’s gone very wrong in this plane maintenance photo.

A mechanic is lying flat on his back with both legs stuck straight up inside the cowl while two coworkers crouch beside him.

It’s one of those photos that makes you wonder, is this actually safe?

Thankfully, those in the know have got involved to explain exactly what’s going on with this bizarre picture.

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The ‘legs up’ plane maintenance technique might freak you out

The strange photo has gone viral on aviation forums, originally posted to Reddit’s r/aviation forum under the title “Is this an approved maintenance technique?”

It shows a mechanic lying flat on his back with both legs sticking up, and it does beg the question: what is supposed to be happening?

Thousands of people flooded the comments with confusion and jokes about what it is, but buried among them were serious answers from aviation experts explaining exactly what’s going on.

One top reply reads: “If you want a serious answer: The guy is holding up an access door to the reverser cowl latches, which itself needs to be secured by 4 smaller latches, and those are a little bit nasty to close with only one hand, so it’s easier to hold up the door with your feet to have a) more strength and b) both hands available to close the latches.”

Another user added: “Absolutely standard. Those access doors are heavy and awkward.”

A third chimed in: “That’s 100 percent how you do it. There’s no better way unless you’ve got three arms.”

And one summed it up perfectly: “Maintenance often looks chaotic, but it’s completely by the book.”

So no, this isn’t an emergency or a hack job, but the mechanic is simply bracing an engine access door with his legs so he can latch it shut safely and efficiently.

It looks ‘plane’ weird

The part he’s working on is the thrust reverser, which redirects engine airflow to help slow down the aircraft after landing.

The access panel underneath the engine doesn’t stay open on its own, and it needs both hands to close properly.

Using your legs to support it is the easiest and safest way to get the job done without damaging anything or employing an octopus to help.

It might look strange to anyone outside the industry, but it’s a completely normal and approved method among aircraft mechanics.

So next time you see a photo like that one and think it looks unsafe, remember: plane maintenance doesn’t always look normal, but it’s all part of keeping planes airworthy and passengers safe.