B737-800
Physiological - Other
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft
I smelled something strange when I got in the plane initially. The smell is hard to describe but I thought it smelled like a sort of chemical burning smell. Or like iron. It kinda smelled like how blood tastes. A girl in the cleaning crew smelled it as well and thought it was strange. After the safety demo; The B and C FAs (flight attendants) told us they smelled something in the aft galley. The A and I went back to check it out. We all got headaches. We smelled in the oven; lavs; and vents and determined the smell was not coming from them. The passengers did not seem bothered. Together; we determined it was safe to fly. Once in the air; the smell did not go away and headaches persisted. I experienced chest tightness and a few short breaths twice while I was in the trailing edge/aft on the cart. My symptoms cleared up about an hour before landing. I experienced chest tightness and a few short breaths twice while I was in the trailing edge/aft on the cart. Make sure this is not an air quality issue.
B737 Flight Attendant reported fumes of 'burning chemical or iron' during preflight which persisted during flight. Entire Flight Attendant crew experienced temporary physiological symptoms.