Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; 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 in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I was working as the 'B' Flight Attendant. As the C and I were finishing the beverage cart; I kept smelling a hot plastic/burning electrical smell starting at row 29. I asked the C if she smelled it too; and she confirmed. I sent her to the front to grab the A [Flight Attendant] who was doing garbage; and he smelled it as well. He called the flight deck while we finished service and stowed the carts. The flight deck advised us to find a source of the smell. We checked passenger laptops; tablets and phones as we suspected a device in thermal runaway. We checked passenger in flight entertainment tablets in the affected area for abnormal heat. We checked overhead bins; and finally isolated the odor to the PSU air vents above rows 29 aft aircraft left. When passengers noticed us conducting our search they asked if we were investigating the 'burnt plastic smell.' The odor was also coming out of the aft galley air vent. The A asked the C and I to do a self-evaluation to see how we were feeling; and I noticed I was feeling lightheaded; woozy; and a bit confused. We relayed all this info to the flight deck and they [advised ATC] and told us to prepare for arrival at ZZZ. The A [Flight Attendant] made an announcement as the C and I prepared the cabin. We also closed all air vents in the affected area. At this point I was starting to lose balance and was getting more confused. We took our jump seats and landed safely at ZZZ. During landing; my eyes were burning; and my hands and arms felt heavy and weak. After landing; the flight deck had us check for the odor again; and we confirmed that it was still present. They began to shut off systems; and once the air was turned off; the odor went away. When we reached the gate and deplaned; all 5 crew members opted to go to the emergency room to be evaluated. Two passengers were checked by medical personal in the jetway.
Flight Attendant reported a hot plastic/burning electrical odor in passenger cabin resulting health issues.