Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 96; Flight Crew Total 3173; Flight Crew Type 3173
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
The Captain left the flight deck to get some food in the terminal.  I remained on the flight deck preparing for the next flight back to ZZZ1.  Cleaners came on board as usual to clean the aircraft.  Someone had partially closed the flight deck door during this process.  The next thing I know I'm overwhelmed and choking on what feels like a strong aerosol type spray.  I immediately departed the flight deck as it was hard to breathe.  When I exit the aircraft on to the jet bridge the entire cabin crew and deadhead crew were waiting for the cleaners and sprayers to complete the cleaning process.  I got some water to try and clear my airway.  While I was doing that one of the flight attendants went to talk to the gate agent regarding this situation.  Apparently this had happened before.  No one knew I was on the flight deck nor did they properly clear the aircraft before spraying.  I don't know how long I was breathing those chemicals before it overwhelmed me.  I was never informed that the aircraft was going to be sprayed while I was on board.
Air carrier First Officer reported ingesting aerosol fumes in the flight deck from cleaners that were on board sanitizing the aircraft without making sure it was empty.