A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Distraction; Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy
As background; the aircraft logbook contained a write-up for a similar; dirty socks odor the previous day on a flight. The logbook entry showed job card work performed and I believe air filters were replaced. The aircraft was then ferried the next day. The Captain told me there were no odors and all appeared normal. I then flew two normal revenue flights with the aircraft also with no odors or other issues. On the subsequent the A Flight Attendant reported a strong dirty socks odor in the forward galley. Based on this report; I initiated the Smoke/Avionics Smoke/Fumes QRH Immediate Action procedure. While in the process of getting our oxygen masks on; both the First Officer and I also detected the strong odor. The QRH procedures calls for proceeding toward the nearest suitable airport. As we were equally close in time to three suitable airports; I sent a quick ACARS message to the Dispatcher informing him of our situation and asking which airport would be best. He suggested continuing to our destination where he would ask for priority. At this point the flight attendants in the forward galley reported they were feeling nauseous. I declared an emergency and informed ATC; Dispatch; flight attendants; and the customers we were diverting. After an uneventful landing; we proceeded toward our assigned gate. We requested paramedics meet the aircraft. While taxiing in; Ramp Control told us that; while our gate was open; company operations wanted us to hold for another gate that would be coming open 'soon' and to contact Operations. I did so and reminded them of our emergency status and our need to get the customers and flight attendants off the aircraft as soon as possible. At this point the odor was evident only in the very front of the cabin; however I was concerned it might spread once on the ground and wanted to minimize customer exposure. We proceeded to the open gate. The First Officer and I kept our oxygen masks on until the engines were shutdown and the cockpit windows had been opened. The customers were deplaned. Some in first class were aware of the odor; but none complained of any symptoms. The A and C flight attendants were still nauseous. The First Officer had a headache but believed it might be from the oxygen mask. I was not feeling well at all. The B Flight Attendant had no symptoms. The Maintenance Manager who met the aircraft said he could still detect a faint odor in the cockpit; however the cockpit windows had been open for about ten minutes by that time. Paramedics examined the crew; and then recommended the four with symptoms be taken to the ER for checkout. The B Flight Attendant went with us as well. We were taken [to a] University hospital. Most symptoms dissipated within 3-4 hours except mine. Curiously; however; all five still had high blood pressure late into the evening; even the three of us that normally have distinctly low blood pressure. My symptoms eased about midnight. All crew members were released by then and preceded to a hotel. Flight Attendant Supervisor graciously met the crew at the hospital and arranged hotel rooms; ground transportation and deadheads for us. 1. Suggestion by Dispatcher to continue to destination was 'unhelpful' in a situation where the QRH procedure called for proceeding to the nearest suitable airport. 2. Request by Operations; in an emergency situation; for us to bypass the originally assigned OPEN gate and wait for another gate to come open 'soon' was; to say the least; 'inappropriate.'
An A319 developed a dirty socks odor on the crew's third flight of the day in that aircraft so an emergency was declared and the flight diverted where four crew members were taken to a hospital with headaches and high blood pressure.