B757-200
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 270; Flight Crew Total 13000; Flight Crew Type 5000
Physiological - Other; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Company Policy; Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
When I arrived on the aircraft; it smelled as if something had occurred in the air; it was faint smell of oil; nothing really noticeable; but the plane did not smell the same as I am used to. The air felt a bit heavier. I did mention this to the Captain; but he said he did not smell anything. When we he released the brakes; a status message appeared that said; APU OIL QTY LOW. He set the brakes and we called Maintenance. When the Mechanic arrived; he too said that the air had a faint smell to it; but in the course of everything being checked on the plane; the smell dissipated. The APU was deferred and before we departed again; one of the flight attendants said that she smelled something in the back of the plane by the galley. The Captain sent me back to smell along with the Mechanic. We smelt nothing; I even stood under the ceiling eyeball bent in the rear galley and to the side to see if the air had any smell to it; which it did not; at which point I said to her 'It's your call; if you smell anything; now or at any time; let us know.' She said she didn't smell anything anymore and would let us know if she did. The flight departed uneventfully and I wore my O2 mask a few different times to see if I noticed any change or a smell; which I did not. The flight attendants never reported any more odd smells or odors to us and all appeared to be normal in smell and function of the aircraft with the exception of no APU.
I was the purser on board. Once the crew came onboard we immediately smelled an odor of oil and fuel in the main cabin and I could smell this same odor in the cockpit as I briefed with the Captain and First Officer. I informed the Captain about the smell and he informed me that their might be a problem with the oil line onboard and that it might be an oil bleed. He informed me that the mechanics were working on this situation. At first we were all feeling well. We were delayed on the ground and the more we were on board the more I began to feel light headed and nauseous. I contacted my crew via interphone to check up with them in the main cabin and I learned that my crew members were experiencing the same feeling. The odor gave me a headache and I was not feeling well. I advised the Captain and the First Officer. The First Officer and I walked to the back of the aircraft and the smell of fuel/oil was stronger. We did not feel comfortable at all. When we went back to the cockpit to inform the Captain he wasn't sure if we should take the flight out or not. I then witnessed quite a bit of struggle between the Captain who didn't seem certain about the safety of this flight and the Mechanic that seemed rushed to get the flight out. They decided to run some tests on this aircraft. I was informed that the test would be performed while passengers and crew were onboard. The concern was now ventilation. The Captain wanted to deplane to perform these tests and First Officer was concerned about the possibility of smoke in the cabin. The solution was to crack the doors. It was of no use as it was only a temporary fix to a major problem. Meanwhile; we were all onboard and assisting passengers with their concerns about the nature of this delay. I felt dizzy and nauseous but continued to perform my duties as did the rest of the crew. I informed the crew about the tests being performed and it was very stressful as we were mildly informed about the oil bleed on this aircraft. I felt that there was still a definite struggle between the mechanics and the flight deck about the safety of this plane. I felt that we were not given a choice on whether 'we' the crew felt safe nor well onboard. All doors were disarmed and opened and the tests were performed. The decision was made and we would be taking the flight. The Captain and First Officer were still apprehensive about this decision but they were advised that the problem was fixed by the mechanics. I was then informed that we would also be taking this flight out with out a working APU. Why would our company allow this aircraft on such long flight with out an APU to aid us in the event of an emergency? We had no choice. I also want to know why this company made the decision to keep this aircraft going knowing about the oil bleed and its potential hazard on the crew and its passengers. I have been a flight attendant for over 12 years and I have never witnessed such a dilemma between the mechanics and the flight deck. Nevertheless; I continued to check with my flying partners and I was soon informed that they were both (in the main cabin) feeling nauseous and one of my crew members had to go into the lavatory because her headache was escalating. I felt the same feeling in first class. When I went into the cockpit to give the flight deck their break in-flight I noticed that both the Captain and First Officer had dawned their oxygen masks because of the fumes in the cockpit. I however was not given that option as I stood in the cockpit breathing the smell of oil. I want to make clear that it was not the fault of the flight deck. I feel they were over powered by the mechanics. We all performed out duties on board professionally and the flight went well. The smell persisted throughout the flight although we were informed that it was safe. I am now experiencing headaches that won't go away; nausea; dizziness; trouble sleeping; stomach cramps and pressure in my ears and head. I have also been experiencing heart palpitations and muscle aches. In addition; the anxiety of not knowing what the root cause of this mechanical was and the hazard to me and my co-workers were told to endure has been horrific. We later learned that this aircraft had been rejected by a previous flight crew and this information was nowhere on my paperwork and none informed us of that situation concerning that flight and crew. We the crew members did not feel that our company was looking out for our safety at all in this situation. They were so pre-occupied with getting the flight out and there was more risk involved than we were led to believe. I will see my doctor as to the conditions I have been experiencing and keep you informed regarding this matter.
B757 Flight Attendants reported nausea; head aches; and other physical ills after a flight on which oil fumes and odors were reported.  The previous crew rejected that aircraft after reporting ill effects from the odor.