B737-800
Flight Attendant Current
Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
While setting up beverage cart; myself (4); 2; and 3 all at the same time noticed an abnormal smell. It smelled electrical and went from a level 2 to a 10 within seconds; and haze was also noticed. I pulled galley circuit breakers; turned chillers; and coffee makers off while 3 called flight deck and informed them of the situation. We diverted to ZZZ1. The entire incident was approximately 30 minutes. The three of us (2; 3; 4); experienced headaches; nausea; and dizziness.After deplaning in ZZZ1; we; as a crew; needed to debrief. We had NO place to do so. Ultimately; we all sat in the one restaurant that had seating. We politely had to request the loud music be turned down; as we didn't feel well; as well as needed to debrief. Scheduling had only called number 3; and was having her relay our account of what happened through her. Scheduling should have called EVERY crew member for our account of the incident from us DIRECTLY. Tracking was called and said 'we heard two of you want a [day off]'. None of us had any idea where that came from. In the meantime; Name 1 from safety had text or called us. He told us You all need to get out of your uniforms IMMEDIATELY; take a hot shower and wash our hair IMMEDIATELY '. He said to contact him if the company gave us any sort of push back. The company did give us a hard time. They told us in order to get a hotel; that we would be removed and coded as a sick call; using our sick time. Our Captain; was listening to this on speaker phone; and he told the company that this was a diversion due to fumes; and questioned why our crew would or could possibly be charged with a sick call and sick time taken away. Keep in mind; there were still approximately 50 passengers that were unable to be rerouted for one reason or another. It was our impression; that after FIVE hours sitting in the ZZZ1 airport; the company needed us to work the flight back to ZZZ to get said passengers back. I called tracking back; and after a very long wait on hold; told her that we took Advil and wanted to be reinstated to work the flight back. The agent had indicated to us that there were NO flight attendants laying over that could relieve us. We had also gotten back in touch with Name 1 from safety; letting him know we had no way of showering and getting out of the fume filled uniforms. I believe the only reason we were reinstated to work the trip is because the company wanted to get the passengers back to ZZZ without any regards to how we felt or the ordeal we went through. Each crew member should have individually been contacted by scheduling. We were dealing with two different people; and neither seemed to know what was going on."
B737 Flight Attendant reported a fume event which resulted in a diversion and cabin crew experiencing physiological symptoms.