A319
Flight Attendant Current
Physiological - Other; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Upon final descent a chemical smell came into the cabin. After landing the odor became stronger as we were deplaning. The C Flight Attendant and I were deplaning passengers and I told her I have a headache and she also said she was getting a headache. Before deplaning completed; the B Flight Attendant; called me and said the odor was extreme. I sent the Captain to the back while we were deplaning for we had to still assist our 10 wheelchair passenger's. His response was; 'it is rain.' I told him that rain is not toxic and doesn't burn your eyes and throat. Passenger's asked what it was and I suggested the passenger ask the Captain. She was standing at Row 1 and I told the Captain that this woman would like to know what the chemical smell is. At that point he took us serious. The First Officer came out of the flight deck and said he has a headache and that he had to open his window to get fresh air. This was even before the flight deck door was opened to the cabin. I was assisting the last wheel chair people and I looked at the B Flight Attendant and she did not look well. I told her to go forward and be ready to get off the aircraft immediately. Last passenger's deplaned; The B Flight Attendant and I next and the C Flight Attendant followed. We needed fresh air for we were dizzy; nauseous; and mentally confused. We went to the local hospital to be checked out.
The reporter stated that the odor was the dirty socks smell but much worse because it had an alcohol component which gave the entire flight attendant crew headaches and sore throats. The First Officer felt the ill effects also because he opened his flight deck window after landing and while taxiing to the ramp. However; he refused medical attention. The Captain would not acknowledge a problem while passengers were onboard the aircraft but Maintenance found oil; presumably from the APU; in the air condition ducts. An attempt was made to clean the system; but the result was a worse smelling cabin than with the oil; so the aircraft was removed from service and the following day flown with only the pilots on board to a Maintenance Station.At the hospital after this event; the flight attendants were diagnosed with Carbon Monoxide poisoning. The reporter was off work for a period of time but is back at work now with no apparent after effects. She also made the statement that her Company has advised some Captain's to not file reports about cabin contamination events because of the legal ramifications. She knows of a friend off work because of a similar event but not qualified for an on the job work injury (OJI) claim because the Captain; supposedly at the Company's request; would not file a contamination report.
An A319 Flight Attendant reported crew and passenger complaints about a chemical smell which caused the crew to be dizzy; nauseous and mentally confused so they were examined at a nearby hospital. APU oil in the air conditioning ducts was thought to be the cause.