Widebody Transport
Flight Attendant Current
Physiological - Other; Confusion; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Human Factors; Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
Our flight took off as normal [for our transatlantic flight]. Approximately 1 1/2 hours into the flight I started to feel dizzy and a little light headed. I thought it was just the pilots changing altitudes or making turns. I asked if anyone else felt the same and they said yes. Position D seemed to experience the feeling the worst. I as [Flight Attendant] E was in the galley organizing and preparing food. My eyes were starting to burn along with my throat. A Flight Attendant called the pilots to explain what we were experiencing; the pilot said he would increase the air to max. It didn't change what we were feeling. A Flight Attendant went to the rear of the aircraft to see if the other flight attendants were experiencing what we were. The G flight attendant on aircraft right came up several times for supplies. He said his throat was very dry a few times. The D and I (E) proceeded to serve up front to try and keep things as normal as possible for the passengers. The D and E both were having their symptoms getting worse. Burning eyes; throat and chest; and nauseous. The D Flight Attendant was coming toward the galley on aircraft right and I could see she wasn't looking so well and she was going to pass out. I grabbed her tray and sat her down. We called for a doctor and sat her in seat 5A. A few doctors came to assist. They took her vitals and said her heart rate was 205 and blood pressure was 130/90. Not too bad but she says she normally has extremely low blood pressure; about 90/60. Medlink was called and said to give her oxygen. Now there had to be a decision made whether to continue on or divert to another city. The Captain spoke to the attending physician who said he could feel what we were experiencing. The Captain said we are diverting and told us at first it would be [a nearby country]; but after speaking to the attending physician they decided on the nearest airport. Since I was basically clearing in everything myself; the F decided she would come up and help me clear stuff in. Then she was over by the 2R door and started to feel a strange sensation come over her and felt dizzy and lost her balance. She got scared and left. The H Flight Attendant whose jumpseat is at the 2R door said his eyes were burning and you could see them turning red. So we prepared for arrival. Landed safely. The paramedics and firemen were there to meet us and took our vitals and asked us questions and took our information. The D and I went in the first ambulance to the hospital. They admitted us to the hospital. Only took our vitals and gave us an EKG. Meanwhile I am still feeling light headed and dizzy. My throat and my lungs are on fire; and nauseous. We waited; of course; for about 6 hours or so. The experience with the attending physician was odd. He didn't want to give us any care. He did say from our symptoms we had been exposed to something but didn't know what it was or to test for. We asked him to draw blood he refused said it wouldn't help anything and wouldn't know what to test for. He didn't check our eyes; throat; or chest. It was such odd situation. He was very defensive about any questions we had and almost as if he was told not to treat us. He didn't give us anything except the D Flight Attendant; she had a breathing treatment; and gave her some meds. She was by far the worst. He just said I hope you feel better and it should go away with time. We all experienced different degree of symptoms depending where we were and for how long. The A Flight Attendant said he felt better when he moved away from the area. Then immediately felt worse when returned. I felt consistently bad. I was in the galley; majority of the time. I felt dizzy; light headed; burning throat and chest; and at times; nauseas. The D had it the worst and she spent most of her time on aircraft R by the 2R door and the galley. We did see at least one of our passengers in the ER and he was sitting on aircraft R [toward front of first class]. He made severaltrips to the restroom and had to pass by the galley. We were released from the hospital with no information and feeling not any better than when we arrived the next day; we deadheaded back to our domicile. I had a sore throat and burning eyes. I think I'm feeling better my eyes seem to be the only thing left still irritated and red.
An Air Carrier Flight Attendant reported her crew and some passengers became ill from an unknown substance during flight so the Captain diverted where medical treatment was administered at a local hospital.