diff --git a/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py b/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py
index 00995d7bedc40..49f83dbfdc727 100644
--- a/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py
+++ b/providers/cncf/kubernetes/src/airflow/providers/cncf/kubernetes/operators/pod.py
@@ -1102,7 +1102,7 @@ def _read_pod_container_states(self, pod, *, reraise=True) -> None:
             pod_reason = getattr(remote_pod.status, "reason", None)
             self.log.info("Pod phase: %s, reason: %s", pod_phase, pod_reason)
 
-            container_statuses = getattr(remote_pod.status, "container_statuses", [])
+            container_statuses = getattr(remote_pod.status, "container_statuses", None) or []
             for status in container_statuses:
                 name = status.name
                 state = status.state