A320
Flight Attendant Current
Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
Twenty seconds after takeoff the B flight attendant in the AFT galley called and informed me they were smelling a distinct 'dirty sock' smell that they believed to be toxic fumes. I then called the captain; informing them of what the B flight attendant had just told me. The captain said he would call right back. About a minute later the odor had made its way through to the plane and was present in the front galley where it made me light headed and dizzy with a slight headache. The odor was noticeable to the passengers. I called the AFT galley back and they had told me they had donned oxygen. The captain soon called me back and told me we were heading back; that it would not be an emergency landing; and he would make the announcement to the passengers and we should prepare the cabin for landing. At this time said they could also smell the odor. We returned the gate where the AFT doors were disarmed and opened due to the discomfort the B/C flight attendants were experiencing. Burning eyes/skin/metal taste/dizziness. The paramedics were called to the aircraft and the flight crew decided to go to the hospital to be checked out and have their blood tested.
A320 Flight Attendant reported a 'dirty sock' smell in the rear of the aircraft shortly after takeoff. The Captain was informed and the flight returned to the departure airport.