B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Attendant Current
Workload; Time Pressure; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
I was the purser on this flight. Shortly after takeoff the f/a at 1L cross aisle told me he could smell burning acrid smell like plastic and asked me to call cockpit. I couldn't smell it myself so asked him to relay info to cockpit. I got up and went to the cross aisle and along with another f/a checked the galley for obvious signs; ovens. Circuit breakers popping etc. the smell was coming or appeared to be coming from the cross aisle area particularly the vent in the ceiling. Another F/A was relaying the information to the cockpit. We were asked to turn off the entertainment system and cockpit shut down the power to seats and galleys. He informed me that the captain said we were going back to the departure airport. She then made a PA wearing an oxygen mask saying we were going back due to smoke in the cabin. I immediately phoned her to say that there was no smoke; just acrid smell which could now be smelled in Y section of the plane.We landed to be met by fire service. The captain explained to them that the smoke had gone and that the problem had been the entertainment system at 1L jumpseat. I had to relay that there had been no smoke and she said that she had understood that we saw smoke. I didn't mention smoke at all. Also it was the cross aisle not 1L jumpseat. We were surprised that the pilots didn't come to check the smell themselves. The smell was intermittent but sometimes very strong; passengers in 1st class smelled it as well.1. On the ground there was a problem with the lavatories not working on the ground the captain did not want to take the plane and told them she would turn right around if there was a problem with them in the air.2. The captain made an announcement to passengers that we needed to get out quickly because there were strong winds going in to ZZZ and the aircraft would not hold up under those conditions. 3. I (purser) was told we were going back to gate due to the smoke; I clarified there was no smoke just burning smell. I asked if she would let the passengers know which she said yes. We prepared the cabin for landing and while strapped in our seats we heard her announcement to passengers (on oxygen mask which scared people) that we had an emergency landing and that fire trucks would be there but to expect a normal landing.I had not been advised it was any kind of emergency; the 1st we knew was this announcement and we were already in our seats ready to land. We had not prepped the cabin for emergency.4. I think crew resource management needs to be improved; maybe bring back the cabin advisory as we didn't know what was going on.
On the ground before boarding; half our lavatories were inop all down the left side; and the mechanics told the captain that they would work once we reach an altitude of 16000 feet. The captain was not happy about taking the plane but said she would turn around and come back if they didn't work in the air.Just before the door closed the Captain made a PA to explain that we were passed the departure time due to the issue with the lavatories. She then stated that there were strong winds expected in our destination so we need to get out early in order to beat them there. She said the winds are going to be strong cross winds across the runways and that this aircraft would struggle to land in such strong winds; in fact any aircraft would struggle to land in crosswinds that strong. After takeoff; I was sitting at ROW (overwing) with my colleague. We were still seated when we noticed that the galley power and chillers suddenly shut off. My coworker went to investigate; she said the FA's at the front could smell an acrid smell coming from the vents so the pilots have turned the power off. I went up there to see if I could help; but I could not smell anything at all. The other FA's said it was an intermittent smell. I went back to business class. Then 10 minutes later; the purser came and told me that we were going back to the departure airport.My coworker and I began to get the cabin ready for landing. She pointed out that as there was no power on the aircraft that we would have to manually put the seats back into landing position. So we worked together and reset about 3 or 4 seats; on our hands and knees as the footrests are hard to get down. One footrest refused to go down so we had to move the passenger.We then sat at our jumpseats; overwing. The captain made a PA saying that 'The FA'S had seen smoke in the cabin and we were going to make an emergency landing back into the departure airport.' She made the announcement whilst wearing her oxygen mask (you can hear it; like diving apparatus). She said that 'We would be met by emergency vehicles on the runway; and we would pull over to the side of the runway for them to check us over. Expect a normal landing. We'll be on the ground in 10 minutes.'We then landed; quite heavily. The captain stated over the PA 'Remain seated; remain seated.' I got up from my jumpseat; walked through the galley and looked into the cabin; but everything was ok; no smoke; [and] no smell. Fire engines came over to where we pulled up and circled us. Then after some minutes we taxied to the gate.We were then given a hotel room for 7 hours and asked to work the later flight. It's only possible to get a couple of hours sleep during the day and then be back on duty again. I did not feel rested enough to be able to work a flight home. Upon landing I would have been awake for 24 hours having only had 2 hours sleep in the hotel. Thankfully; my status was changed to deadhead.
Several B767-300 flight attendants describe a cabin fume event during climbout and the problems associated with preparing the cabin for an emergency return to land with Utility Power removed.