B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During my break; I was woken up notifying me that we were diverting to ZZZZ. Found out [a] number of flight attendants were feeling nauseous; dizziness and sluggish. After entering the cockpit; I also got tingling feeling and headache. Cockpit crew completed Smoke; Fire or Fumes checklist; and Overweight Landing checklist. Landed and taxied to gate uneventfully. There were no signs of visible smoke or identifiable smell in the cockpit or cabin during the event.After safely arriving on the gate; one of the flight attendants mentioned she might have smelled anti-freeze type smell coming from the chiller. Initially; I thought we might have experienced refrigerant poisoning; the symptoms were similar to symptoms of hypoxia. After Maintenance investigation that took two days found a cargo container with shoes and the glue that was used to attach soles was the cause of the symptoms. The chemicals used to manufacture the adhesive should be investigated; and if inhaled; what short and long term effects can we expect. If it's harmful to humans; it should not be carried on passenger air carriers.
B767 First Officer reported enroute diversion due to several Flight Attendants experiencing symptoms similar to hypoxia caused by unknown source. Further investigation by Maintenance determined fumes of cargo shipment of glue and shoes was the probable cause.