Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Other / Unknown; Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
Please accept this report; as this is the first opportunity I've had to file this report. I FA #1 boarded Aircraft X and when the #2 Flight Attendant boarded the aircraft she mentioned to me if I smelled the oily smell coming from the air vents (gaspers) in the forward galley. I did smell the oily smell coming from the gaspers. She mentioned it to the Captain and he stated that they had just brought the aircraft in from ZZZ and that the Flight Attendants has not mentioned anything. During the initial boarding I the #1 FA mentioned the continued smell to the Pilot. it also smelled like 'dirty socks'. The boarding process eventually was completed; seated and stowed and the final souls on board count was given to the Captain; closure of the Forward 1L door closure was granted by Captain; door was closed; PA was done to arm doors and cross check ; crosschecks were completed by all Flight Attendants; an 'all call' was performed by me #1 FA to ensure all Flight Attendants had armed doors and cross checked; final cabin secure given to Pilot prior to closing cockpit door. Safety demo was performed; and safely checks were completed by all FAs prior to take-off. During the flight I the #1 started to experience a huge headache; felt nauseated; felt like passing out; had a terrible stomach ache and felt dizzy. the other Flight attendants #2; #3; and #4 also complained about having headaches; felling nauseated; feeling dizzy; feeling tingling in fingers; and having upset stomach. All of us did not feel right; and felt ill. I called the Captain with our concerns and told him I would call him with an update. I called him again and he said to for each of us to fill out a report which we did; and he collected all of them. I eventually called him back and told him we needed to have the paramedics meet the plane upon landing at ZZZZ1 and that all the Flight Attendants #1;#2;#3;#4 need to go to the hospital. Once on the ground the paramedics met the plane but stated that all four of us could not be transported in the only ambulance that showed up to take us to the hospital after telling us all to get into the ambulance. we had to get out and go back up the stairs from the ramp and back into the terminal and wait on the logistics to be figured out on how they were going to transport us to the hospital.  I had reported that 'All' four Flight Attendants need to go to the hospital. That lack of preparation on the ground to transport us to the hospital became quiet the debacle; and took a long while.  Once back inside the terminal we contacted medical company to report our illnesses. The paramedics left then had to be called back to come get us; I was told that they were on another call and that they would come back. Eventually they did; they took some basic vital signs; were missing some medical equipment (CO2 monitor)and worked with the ground personnel to figure out how to get us to the hospital. after at least of over 2 hours after landing In ZZZZ1 they finally took us to Hospital X in City which is 45 minutes from the airport to be seen in and Emergency Department. We were  never given oxygen as a basic  medical resource after complaining of possibly being in a 'Fume  Event' by the paramedics. At the Hospital X we were given  [medical treatment]. No blood work was ever done; again; oxygen was never administered to any of the Flight Attendants. I had an X-ray done because I was complaining about my lungs hurting. The x-ray report came back normal; after being read by a regular doctor; but a specialist said after he reviewed it that I  had fluid in my right lung. We finally were released from the emergency room after they secured payment by Air Carrier name ; as they told us we could not leave until the bill was paid. I had to use my own credit card to pay for  all the Flight Attendant prescriptions; as the pharmacy  was off site. We were transported back to the hotel and checked in for our overnight. We were grounded by medical. We were given  instructions to go to another hospital the next day which was in their network Hospital Y. We complied with this request and we received IV therapy; were given prescriptions; and blood work was done which showed a lot of our levels out of normal range. We remained at the hotel for 5 days under the care of Medical until we were released to fly to our home base of ZZZ2. Once back in the United States we were contacted by Company; [Air Carrier] employee medical provider and were told to go to a US hospital to get checked out and have test done.  I was seen at Trauma Center in City where I reside with the approval of Company.  My final diagnosis was- lung injury. I am still taking prescriptions; and I am still on my inhaler. I continue to experience pain in my lungs and I am still under the care of Company. I want to be contacted by the FAA about this report. - [F/A Name; Employee No.]
Please accept this report; as this is the first opportunity I've had  to file this report.   As soon as I stepped onto the aircraft; I noticed a dirty sock smell- an oil smell. It was strong to me. I mentioned this to the #1 and #3. I then stepped into the cockpit to introduce myself. After a few cordial words; I asked 'Do you guys smell that?' The Captain said 'What?'- I said 'it's like an oil; fume or dirty sock smell'. The Captain said 'no; we just brought this aircraft in from ZZZ and had no problems; and the other crew (other flight attendants); never mentioned anything'. I went back to the back galley where I was working. We started boarding; and then departed. I did walk back up to the front during boarding and the smell CLEARLY a dirty sock smell; which we all know only comes from oil; was still lingering.  Approximately an hour and twenty minutes into the flight; (maybe and hour and thirty) the number 1 came back to the back galley where the rest of us flight attendants were sitting. I said to all of them 'Hey; I just want you all to know I have a mad headache and I don't feel right and I know it's from that smell I smelled before boarding'. Each flight attendant then shared that they too had headaches; and the number #3 said his fingers were tingling; the #4 said she felt dizzy and had vertigo; and the #1 said he felt like he was going to pass out; was nauseous; and had a bad stomach ache. The #1 called the Captain; and he went through the cabin fume event checklist. He asked each of us several questions. We had a few different conversations with the Captain and the #1 had called the Captain several times. At one point in my conversation with the Captain he said something about why we didn't say anything; and I said 'wait a minute- I did say something and you told me you brought this aircraft in from ZZZ and there was no problems and the other flight attendants never mentioned anything'. The Captain replied; 'Yes; you did; I dropped the ball'. As the flight progressed to ZZZZ1; the cabin crew felt worse. The Captain was informed that we wanted the paramedics to meet the flight AND that we ALL needed to go to the hospital. We landed in ZZZZ1; deplaned the passengers and walked up the jetway; we had to wait about 5 minutes for the paramedics. We immediately called Medical to inform them of our situation and our symptoms. Medical wanted to go into grave detail about our information and the crew was getting more and more anxious and feeling worse. One of us finally said 'Please; can you just get us on the way to the hospital and we can call you on the ride to give this information?'  We all sat in wheelchairs. The medics took our blood pressures; however; were lacking in any other medical equipment. They used my SPO2 monitor to complete our initial vitals. Never were we placed on O2.  The lack of ground logistics for the transportation to take us all to the hospital was a huge fiasco. We sat for over two hours before getting transportation that took ONE HOUR to get to the hospital. We had repeatedly stated we wanted to go to the hospital and the delay of care was unacceptable. At one point we were all brought down the stairs to the bottom of the aircraft where an ambulance was waiting. We all got in the ambulance; and then about 20 minutes later were told to get out as the paramedics would not take all 4 of us. Back up into the airport we went. Not to mention that it was about 90 degrees outside and we were in full uniform. I then began to feel like I was going to pass out. We were placed back in the wheelchairs. Finally a van was procured for our transportation to The Hospital X. This took over an hour. Name was an agent for Air Carrier in ZZZZ1 and went with us to the hospital. She was extremely helpful. We arrived at the hospital and eventually were all placed in separate rooms; examined; were given IV medication and then prescriptions to go back to the hotel with. NO X-RAYS; EKG's or other tests were taken at this hospital. Not one of us were given oxygen therapy. No blood work was taken. We were cleared to leave after about 4 hours HOWEVER we were not allowed to leave because the hospital had not received any payment! It took several phone calls with Medical; and the company to get the bill paid. This part is unclear as most was spoken in  [local language]; but from what I gathered; Name (our liaison) was given a credit card to pay the bill. Furthermore our #1 took ALL of our prescriptions across the street and paid for them out of his pocket!!! After another hour long drive back to the hotel; the crew checked in; changed clothes and barely made it down to the restaurant to eat before it closed for the night. The next morning Medical called to check in on us and determined we all needed to be checked out again. This was after Medical questioned WHY we went to THAT hospital last night. I've never been to this Destination before and it's not like any of us picked a hospital. Medical set it up for us. Well Friday morning; Medical said that wasn't the hospital they are affiliated with and we need to go to Hospital Y. This was about XA:00 am local time. It was XD:00 local when we got into a van to take us to the hospital. This was another huge fiasco; there should be measures in place to easily get medical attention when needed! The company (daily Ops) had told the #1 to take an Uber!!!! He informed the person on the phone of the dangers of ZZZZ1; and that you do not take Uber as kidnapping is a serious threat. But I digress. We finally arrived at the second hospital an hour later and there we proceeded to get another IV placement with medication for our individual symptoms; X-rays; blood work; & EKG's. We were also given different prescriptions to take with us. This time it was all covered and the scripts were filled right then and there. We were not medically cleared to fly out of ZZZZ1 until Date. We landed in ZZZ2 and were met by each of our supervisors. We talked with them for awhile. We each eventually went on our way home. I then called Company because I wanted to get checked out in [domicile]. Finally on [following day] I was contacted and was given instructions to go to the hospital as now my symptoms included a chest tightness; a continued head ache and just a feeling of being 'off'. I went to General Hospital Z on Date & Time I gave the doctor there my union provided card that explains aircraft fume event procedures and what I was exposed to. My doctor at the ED decided he wanted to contact his colleague who was an infectious disease specialist.  I was given IV medication; a 12 lead EKG; chest X-rays; oxygen therapy for 1 hour; and several vials of blood work; some of which were repeated after an hour. The doctor determined that the symptoms I was having were in line with inhaling a toxin. He advised me to follow up with my primary care doctor; to get plenty of rest and to take it easy. As I am writing this report; my head aches are managed by Motrin; I still have a chest heaviness and feel my heart racing at times and have had two episodes of feeling like I am going to pass out. I have finished the prescription medication I was prescribed. I am worried about the long term repercussions of this fume event. I am also worried about losing time and pay away from work. I want to be contacted by the FAA about this incident.
Flight Attendant crew reported a fume event which resulted in physiological symptoms and medical treatment.