A319
Flight Attendant Current
Physiological - Other
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Evacuated; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I was a deadheading crew member and pre-boarded the flight with my fellow deadheading crew members. We had just placed our luggage in the overhead bins and we were getting settled into our seats; when all crew members on board (both deadheading and working) noticed a very strong smell of burnt plastic / dirty feet come on. The odor developed rapidly and grew stronger by the second. I developed a headache and became lightheaded. When we realized there appeared to be a fume event; the working crew called for maintenance and we all exited the aircraft and waited for further direction on the jet bridge. At this time my headache worsened; and I continued to feel lightheaded to the point I was having to physically hold my head up with my hand. The First Officer exited the aircraft to do a walk around in attempt to locate the source of the smell; and upon his return he stated that there was a bleed in the aircraft; and that we would not be able to take the plane to our planned destination. At this point; I developed a strong throat irritation and labored breathing. I walked back onto the aircraft to grab my luggage; at which point my mouth started to tingle and went numb. I walked halfway up the jet bridge to get outside to the gate; and fell backwards; briefly unconscious. My crew member was able to catch me and sit me down and again; I passed out. The crew was quick to retrieve oxygen from the aircraft and administered it to me as we waited for paramedics to arrive. I was then taken to the ER for treatment.
A319 deadheading Flight Attendant reported strong fumes during pre-boarding resulting in health issues and deplaning of aircraft.