A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Diverted; General Evacuated
Aircraft
The entire crew was aware and briefed by the captain that this aircraft was late into ZZZ due to a previous fume event the day prior and wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the proper procedures on how to handle a fume event. Prior to boarding the C Flight Attendant (F/A) made the cockpit crew and all other F/A's aware that she smelled only what she could describe as a 'smelly foot' smell in the aft galley. The entire crew went back to the aft galley to investigate if they smelled the same odor. Not one single crew member could verify what the C-F/A smelled so with 4 out of 5 crew members all in agreement that is was nothing to worry about; we proceeded to board the passengers. After a lengthy delay from the aircraft being late to ZZZ and a MEL addition; we finally departed the gate. Everything was normal up until after takeoff and above 10;000ft MSL we got a call from a F/A saying that there was a dirty sock smell now coming from the forward galley and went all the way to approximately row 10. By this time we were somewhere around FL250 climbing to FL380. The captain spoke to the F/A's while I handled the flying. The captain told me that all 3 F/A's now could confirm the same smell and it was the 'dirty sock' smell. The captain and I donned our O2 masks immediately then the captain asked me to tell ATC we needed to level off; slow down and enter a present position hold so we could deal with an issue. ATC complied and we leveled off at FL300 and slowed to 250kts and entered into a present position hold right hand turns with 10 mile legs. The captain took the controls of the airplane while I ran the fume/odor event checklist from ZZZZZ. It took about 10 min to run the check list due to the 3-5 min waiting period per pack to see if the fume/odor disappeared. The F/A's told us after each pack and been selected to off and after the waiting period that the smell had not gone away. Per the checklist; if the odor had not disappeared; you are to land ASAP. At that time the captain gave the controls of the plane back to me and he then proceeded to declare with ATC and asked for immediate vectors back to ZZZ. The Captain notified the F/A's that we were headed back to the airport and that they should prepare the cabin for arrival and if they needed for safety to use the O2 for themselves. Since we had notified ATC and as the pilot flying I kept the speed up as much as possible so we could get people and ourselves out of a dangerous situation as quickly as possible I flew above 250kts below 10;000ft MSL. And then when ATC gave us a heading to vectors for the ILS RWY XX into ZZZ due to the tense situation and difficulties hearing and speaking with the O2 masks on which made crew coordination VERY difficult; we turned to the wrong heading but was quickly corrected when ATC asked us to confirm our heading. We had turned to a 030 heading when it should have been a 100 heading. With the heading issue corrected; we made it to the ground without incident. After exiting the runway Tower control asked us to utilize a high speed taxiway for exiting the runway and come to a stop clear of the runway hold short markings so that airport ops crews could inspect the plane. The passengers were then de-planed by a bus that is utilized in ZZZ there on the taxiway and after the fireman were onboard the plane with some sort of device that can determine air toxicity; they told myself and the captain that it was unsafe levels of CO2 in the cabin so the captain and I shut the airplane completely down; even waiting the 2 min waiting period for the APU to shut down before turning the batteries off and ensuring the plane was chocked; releasing the parking brake so that the plane could be towed; the captain and I were the last people off the airplane with only fire crews left on the plane.
Received the aircraft approximately 4 hours late due to maintenance issues at another station. Inbound crew reported no issues with the airplane while they had it; except for waiting for parts. I received the airplane with the APU running and no ground power connected and aircraft packs operating off of the APU. Checking the logbook it was noted aircraft had had a fumes event the previous evening. I briefed the flight attendants and also advised about the previous fumes event and what would take place if it were to happen again. I then had additional maintenance items that had to be dealt with. This caused another delay of approximately 45 minutes.We then departed with no further delays. Climbing through approximately 25;000 feet; I received a call from the A Flight Attendant about a bad odor in the forward galley. I questioned her as to the location; intensity and movement. I then questioned the other 2 flight attendants who confirmed that the odor was of moderate intensity moving aft and smelled of 'feet.' At this time I had what I believed to be an honest to god fumes/odor event in the cabin. While all this was going on; the First Officer who was flying; leveled the airplane at 30;000 feet and requested holding. I then called for the Fumes checklist and both the First Officer and I went on oxygen. We worked the checklist and talked to ATC best as we could; as the O2 masks are a huge hindrance. We were unable to clear the odor problem. I [advised ATC] and requested a return to [departure airport] as we were only 80 to 100 miles away. I advised the A Flight Attendant we would be returning to the airport and to prepare the passengers and limit their time in the forward galley. I also advised Company of what was going on; and my biggest concern was were there going to be agents at the gate to remove the passengers immediately upon return.We returned to the airport; landed and pulled the airplane off the runway and stopped. The fire department wanted to look at it before we went any further. It was also decided to have a people mover pull up to the airplane to remove the passengers; which they did as we were unable to contact Company. At this time; while the passengers were getting off; the fire department was on the aircraft inspecting things as well. Once all the passengers were off they asked us if we could move the airplane; and we told them yes. They then did some air sampling and said the levels of CO2 were too high and they wanted the crew off the airplane as well. Upon arrival in the terminal; the flight attendants were taken by EMS personnel to be checked and eventually went to the hospital.
Airbus A319 flight crew reported a dirty sock smell from the forward galley resulted in a return to the departure airport.