Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
After pushback; the #2 engine of the 757 had noticeably more smoke than usual at startup; so much so that it was noted by passengers and crew. Shortly after; our APU went out. The cabin was dark except for Emergency Lights. At my jumpseat 2L; passengers began complaining of the smell of smoke and many began to cough. The Captain was alerted and he made an announcement that we would be returning to Gate XX. It was several minutes before we arrived back at the gate.When we arrived at the gate; the cabin lights came back on. Once on; it was very clear that there was moderate smoke/haze throughout the aircraft. We disarmed our cabin doors and the Gate Agent opened door 2L. Once the door was open; the Captain rushed off and the Agent returned to the podium.More passengers began coughing and complaining that it was hard to breathe. One passenger came up to [door] 2L and alerted me she suffered from asthma and could not breathe. With the Captain and Gate Agent not available; I stepped off the jet bridge to call the Gate Podium to alert them of the severity of the cabin conditions. The phone rang; but there was no answer. I stepped off the aircraft; violating FAR Flight Attendant Mins and ran up the jet bridge. The Gate Agent was on the phone with [Operations Control]. I quickly/urgently notified them of the severity and passengers needed to deplane ASAP. I was given the ok to make an announcement to have passengers deplane. I then quickly ran back down the jet bridge and made the announcement. No more than 3 words into my announcement; passengers began rushing off so quickly; that it almost seemed like an actual evacuation. The smoke alarm at lavatory 2L soon activated; which made the passengers deplane even quicker.With the passengers now safely off the aircraft; a mechanic was soon onboard; opening doors 2R; 1L and 1R to air out the aircraft. He advised us that we needed to deplane quickly as well as it was not safe to be on the aircraft.When we arrived in the gate area; smoke could be seen; not just in the jet bridge; but lingering into the gate area as well.A new 757 aircraft was used and after a 3hr delay; we were finally on our way ZZZ-ZZZ1 from Gate XY.Myself and other crew members began to complain of labored breathing; scratchy/red eyes. Upon my arrival into ZZZ1 the following evening; I visited [Medical] to have my eyes checked out as they were burning throughout the day. I regret the fact that I had to leave the aircraft to notify [Company] personnel of the severity of the conditions onboard the aircraft that evening; but the fact was *every second counted* getting passengers off that aircraft. Even just waiting a couple of minutes would have been very harmful and may have resulted in further damaging what was becoming a very serious situation. My absence on the aircraft was maybe one minute at the most. However; it was for safety reasons and for that; I believe it was justified.Lastly; please note the Nose# [Aircraft Tail Number] listed may/may not be the original aircraft used and explained in this incident as a replacement aircraft was used later for this flight.
B757 Flight Attendant reported notifying Captain of fumes during taxi accompanied with loss of cabin lighting. Health symptoms were experienced by passengers and cabin crew.