Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Workload; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
I worked as the forward flight attendant on the flight. My colleague was the aft flight attendant. The passengers boarded in a normal manner and we received the 10;000 feet chime. Things were going normal up until this point. About 15 minutes after the 10;000 feet chime; my colleague mentioned to me in the galley area that she was feeling light-headed and tired and I agreed. The night before; we both received little rest because the hotel shuttle arrived 30 minutes late to pick us up from the airport. Then; we had to be up that morning to get on a predawn shuttle to work a flight with a sunrise departure.After my colleague told me she was feeling light-headed; I commented that my ears were popping. We were both feeling light headed and my ears were popping repeatedly. We were still in the galley preparing for service. Then; I noticed that the oxygen masks in the forward flight attendant jumpseat were hanging down. I said 'look;' as I pointed toward the oxygen mask. My colleague said 'OMG; this isn't good.'We both immediately looked out at the cabin and realized all the oxygen masks had dropped down. My colleague immediately locked her beverage cart and ran out to the cabin area to get oxygen and then proceeded to help passengers get their oxygen masks on as well. Some passengers had already started to put their oxygen masks on. I turned my attention to the forward flight attendant oxygen mask and was trying to get oxygen for myself; but the oxygen masks over the forward flight attendant jumpseat were extremely tangled. I realized I would not have time to untangle the masks and get oxygen. The light-headed feeling I had was intensifying at this point. After fumbling with the masks for about a minute; I looked out at the cabin and saw that most of the passengers in the cabin had their oxygen masks on or was in the process of putting it on. I tried calling the flight deck; but could not reach them. I didn't hear anything. I tried calling again and heard a static noise. I hung up the phone.I wasn't sure if the Captain and First Officer were okay at this point. Since I was working as the forward flight attendant and my oxygen masks were inoperative; I joined my colleague; who was sitting in I think seat 9B. My colleague was sitting in that row because she was feeling light headed and didn't think she would remain conscious enough to reach the aft jumpseat (row 20). I later learned that my colleague has a compromised respiratory system so it was a good thing she sat in the closest available passenger seat. I sat next to my colleague and she immediately proceeded to help me put on my oxygen mask. I was still feeling light headed at this point. At this time; all passengers in the cabin are donning oxygen masks and the cabin is hazy; with the smell of something burning. The cabin was still visible; but the atmosphere was hazy. My colleague and I are looking out at the window; trying to figure out how close we are from the ground. After I donned the oxygen mask for about 4 or 5 minutes; I got up and made sure the entire cabin was okay and proceeded to help mothers with crying infants put the masks on their babies/small children.The flight deck calls and I rush to answer the phone and they informed me that the plane lost cabin pressure and asked how the passengers were doing. I informed them we had on our masks and they said okay and hung up in a hurried manner. Since I had some oxygen; I was able to relay the message to the passengers over the PA system and instructed them to still keep on their masks and remain seated with their seatbelts fastened. I then began securing the rest of the galley because by this time; I had received enough oxygen and wasn't feeling as light-headed as I was earlier. My colleague at one point cautioned me to sit down and take more oxygen referring to the term 'point of useful consciousness;' but I think at this point; I was running off pure adrenaline. I stowed away the cart (which my colleague had locked earlier) and other items that were on the floor in the galley. I then heard the emergency chimes. My colleague and I had already prepared the cabin and my colleague said; 'We only have 13 minutes for these masks.' I immediately called the flight deck and informed them that we had 13 minutes on the oxygen masks and inquired if we would be landing soon. The captain then responded that we were coming up on 10;000 feet so we would be okay without the oxygen masks. I relayed the information immediately to the passengers and could visibly see the relief on peoples' faces when I announced they didn't need the oxygen masks; but if by choice they still wanted to wear the masks; that was more than fine. About a minute later; the flight deck made the PA announcement that we would divert and that the plane had lost cabin pressure and they would provide more info upon landing. The flight deck then immediately called me personally and said it would be a normal landing and not an emergency landing. They asked me to call them back once everyone was secured and I did. Everyone remained seated with their seatbelts securely fastened. Upon landing; I commended the passengers for their cooperation in my announcement. The passengers were truly a great bunch; despite the circumstances. Everyone had remained calm. As the passengers exited the aircraft; they commended my colleague and me for our diligence and help throughout the entire situation. We had all landed safely. Maintenance came on board immediately. My colleague and I informed the flight deck and Maintenance about the oxygen masks above the forward jumpseat being inoperative at the time. We (crewmembers) went over the whole series of events and checked amongst ourselves as fellow crew that we were all okay. I contacted my manager and spoke with her briefly once all passengers were off the aircraft. My colleague and I were deadheaded back. It was a scary situation; but my colleague and I handled it in a calm fashion and remained professional. Things we learned from training definitely kicked in and we were grateful to have worked as a team in this unfortunate situation. We were all just grateful that we landed safely.
At 10;000 feet we received our double chime and proceeded the sequence of events in preparation for the cabin beverage service. Approximately 10 to 15 minutes into this phase of flight; as I was completing my beverage cart preparation; I noticed that I was feeling dizzy and had a slight pain in the center of my forehead; as we as some pressure in my ears. I turned to [the other FA] and said ; 'we must be really high in the air; I'm feeling dizzy' she replied; 'yes; my ears are popping too'; as she began squeezing her nostrils and shaking her head; trying to release some of the pressure in her ears.Within seconds [she] pointed to the forward FA jumpseat; I looked over at the forward FA jumpseat; then turned to the cabin; staggering as I turned; and noticed that every oxygen mask had deployed. I replied; 'Oh my god; this is not good'.I ensured that the brake on the service cart was locked; when I looked at the oxygen mask at the forward FA jumpseat; all that I saw was knotted strings and tubing; there was no way we would be able to disassemble the knots in the strings and use those mask; my time of useful consciousness was diminishing at a rapid pace.I was heading down the aisle to the first available empty passenger seat; which was located in row 8 or 9 (seats A and B). As I made my way through the aisle; feeling somewhat disoriented and short of breath; I noticed a cloudy haze as well as a very offensive strong odor in the cabin; I [was] instructing passengers to 'Pull that string hard!; place the mask over your nose and mouth!; keep your seatbelts fastened! Keep the mask on the baby! The passengers remained calm and complied with my instructions.I took my seat; donned my oxygen mask immediately; and fastened my seatbelt. Shortly after; [the other FA] joined me; and I assisted her with her mask as well.[The other FA] and I continued to visually monitor the cabin. I reminded [the other FA] that I was concerned with our time of useful consciousness (since I was feeling dazed and observed that the decompression had taken [some] effect on us both) and that we only had 13 minutes of fixed oxygen; so we looked out of our window to try to calculate approximately how rapidly we were descending; anticipating an emergency landing. In the next few minutes we received a call from the flight deck; [the other FA] accepted the call; I continued to take oxygen; because my breathing was still a little labored. The Captain made an announcement that we had lost cabin pressure; and that we would be making an emergency landing. In the next couple of minutes another call came from the flight deck followed by an announcement by the Captain and the forward FA. We were informed that we were approaching 10;000 feet; this would be a normal landing; and that it was ok for those passengers that would like; to remove their oxygen mask. Some of the passengers did remove their mask; while some continued to keep them on.At this time I removed my oxygen mask; got up from my seat and began monitoring the passengers; asking if everyone was ok; and if they needed any further assistance. As I continued through the aisle; we received the double chime and I proceeded to the aft FA jumpseat. As I was still feeling the physical effects of the decompression. I felt it necessary to continue to administer oxygen to myself so I again donned the aft FA jumpseat oxygen mask until we were parked at the gate. Upon landing; [the other FA] and I commended the passengers for their cooperation; and we thank them. The passengers also thanked us and commended [the other FA] and myself for the excellent service that we provided.Once the last passenger exited aircraft; Maintenance came onboard. [The other FA] and I explained the situation concerning the oxygen mask deployment at the forward FA jumpseat; and we reviewed the sequence of events as they took place in the cabin with maintenance and our pilots.
Two CRJ-900 flight attendants described the events following a cabin depressurization detected by dropped masks. Prior to seeing the masks both flight attendants experienced hypoxia symptoms.