A319
Physiological - Other
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft
Most of the customers were on the aircraft. The power went out on the aircraft; when the GPU fell out of the plane. The Captain went outside to figure out what happened. The Captain returned [and] made an announcement of delay. We could still smell the odor and I asked the Captain if we could be experiencing a fume event; but he assured [me] it was a faulty air start cart that pumped some unwanted stinky smells into the aircraft that were from the air start cart and not from the plane. I was the Number 1 [Flight Attendant] in the fwd galley. I had done the pre-departures and was locking up my galley when I received a phone call from the Number 2 [Flight Attendant]. The Number 2 [Flight Attendant] told me he smelled an odor in the aft of the aircraft that smelled like burning rubber. I said I would go back and check the smell as well. I noticed a slight electrical burning smell up front which concerned me it may be stronger in the aft galley. I walked to the back of the aircraft and could smell the electrical burning scent my entire walk down the aircraft aisle. What the Number 2 [Flight Attendant] smelled was a different description than mine; however; he stated he had a headache from the strength of the odor in the aft galley. It was strong enough; I believed that to be the reason. I walked back to the fwd galley and along the way a passenger stopped me near the exit row to ask what the mist was around the ceiling. I told her what I knew at the time; that it was condensation in the cabin; what I did notice but did not tell the passenger was that the condensation was only in the fwd part of the cabin and that seemed strange to me. I continued to smell the odor up from and informed the Captain of the smell. He went to do his check of the odor in the back while I finished up with the gate agent and my galley in order to depart. During the flight; I started getting a headache; sore throat and at times moments of dizziness (classic symptoms of a toxic fume event exposure). I carried on with my duties delivering meals and drinks; all the while staying in touch with the Captain; Number 2 and 4 [flight attendants] on the aircraft phone. As my headache and sore throat became stronger in flight; I went to the back to ask the other flight attendants if they were still able to smell the odor like myself. They said they were unsure and out of concern the Number 4 [Flight Attendant] came to the front of the cabin to smell the fwd galley herself. She was not sure if she could smell the odor or not; or if she had just acclimated to the scent. She returned to the aft galley and within 10 minutes; I called the Captain to let him know that the Number 2 [Flight Attendant] still had a headache and that I was still smelling it; having a headache and a sore throat that was getting worse; by that time after visiting the fwd galley the Number 4 [Flight Attendant] said that she was feeling nauseated. While on the phone the Captain asked for a bathroom break. While in the flight deck; the First Officer (FO) asked me how I was feeling again; I told the FO how I was feeling and FO [expressed having] a metal taste in the mouth. I agreed; that's what I was feeling. At some point during the flight; I spoke to a [Manager] we found on board. After the bathroom break it was not long before we landed; everything went normal in the back; aside from the crew feeling ill. We landed. When the flight deck door opened the Captain and First Officer informed me they were able to smell the odor strong again upon decent and landing; they debated putting their O2 masks on upfront for landing. At this point the Captain also said this was a fume event and not the air start cart like he originally thought.What the Captain and First Officer figured happened at the gate in ZZZ was: The air start cart was started by the ground crew improperly and pressure applied to the aircraft without it being configured for engine start. This damaged the aircraft air-conditioning PACK and blew in contaminants. Thus on decent; the PACK1 created another fume event in the front of the aircraft. The flight attendants and pilots started our procedural fume event checklists. I spoke to [Company Representative] and the union; While on the phone with [Company Representative] a [Manager] called and left a message telling me the pilots were 'OK and the plane was not going to be grounded and that [Manager] hoped we were OK as well and that we should continue to ZZZ1 where we would be taken care of.' The Captain; First Officer and 3 flight attendants were not okay. The Captain said he received a phone call telling him that the 'flight attendants were okay and wanted to continue.' Captain came to the aft of the cabin where we were making our phone calls to ask if that was true; because we had all said we wanted to seek medical attention. Managers and Mechanics were on board. The Ground Personnel said they could still smell the AC odor. Paramedics came on board and did a test on us to determine if we may have been exposed to fumes. The paramedics said we were all elevated enough that they wanted us to seek treatment locally. The hospital [Company Representative] said was in network was too far away. [Company Representative] was able to send paperwork to a local ER. The ER had emergencies that took priority over us; with 1 doctor. It was after XApm before I was able to have blood work drawn to test for toxins. This was 6 hrs. after our flight ended. The doctor recommended fresh air and relaxation after being exposed to a respiratory irritant.Suggestions - Better education on what fume events are. Still today; most flight attendants do not know what they are.
A319 Flight Attendant In Charge reported strong electrical burning odor in passenger cabin that resulted in flight attendants experiencing health issues. Crew received medical evaluation and treatment.