B757-200
Flight Attendant Current
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
Just finished service and began to pick up on aircraft. I heard call lights go off and got up to answer and cabin was filled with smoke and immediately started to look for fire in overhead bins and bathrooms. I then informed the No. 1 that there was no fire in the galley or bathroom then retrieved oxygen for me and customers who may have needed it. I then asked everyone to cover noses and pull their seatbacks up; and that we will be landing. As I did that [I was] going to the back to get my checklist from my manual and assisting passengers with wet cloths to their noses. As I was doing that the No. 1 made a PA to don life vests as a precaution to landing in water and we also donned ours.  So me and the No. 4 where getting everyone to lower their heads to get below the smoke and be able to breath better and assisting people that needed help to put on life vests. Once everyone was seated with nose covered we took our seats for landing and landed safely. The No 1. told me to open the 3L door and to get fresh air for the cabin and she opened the 1L after we landed. By then the smoke had cleared up. The aircraft was towed to area to be unloaded and ramp stands where used to deplane the passengers. I think that engine failed and that is why we had to land.
I was the Purser and approximately 2:30 hrs into the flight the Number 3 Flight Attendant tells me there is smoke in the cabin. I looked into the cabin and saw a thick cloud of smoke quickly taking over the cabin. Passengers began to ring call lights and to complain. I quickly called the Captain; it took about 3 sets of chimes for him to finally respond. He responded and told me he was aware of the emergency and his plan to land as ASAP. I gathered the halon; and walked around oxygen and PBE. I walked over to [another Flight Attendant] who was checking the mid galley for possible sources of fire. After looking through lavatories and overhead bins; we determined there was no fire in the cabin. The Number 3 Flight Attendant and I decided to look for the Emergency checklist and were able to read up to 9. It was very difficult to read and make sense of this chart; in part do to the low visibility and the oxygen mask over my face. After reading number 9 I decided to abandon the list and go from memory. Since landing was quickly approaching and without communication from Captain (NO TEST info); I decided to do things as best as I recalled from training. I ask passengers to put on the life vest; make sure the floor space in front of their feet was clear and to assist their neighbors. I walked through the cabin to check on the passengers and found many had difficulty opening the life vest. This took away precious time since I personally had to open it for them. I made a prepare for landing PA and reassured passengers that we DID NOT anticipate landing in the water; but we were asking them to wear the life vest as a precaution. I took my jump seat and waited for landing. After a safe landing; I told the passengers we were safe and out of danger and recommended that they hug each other for comfort. I did this mostly to release tension and to reassure them that we were in fact out of danger. As the fire trucks and ground personnel took care of the airplane. I continued to stay on the PA and kept them informed of the situation.
B757 cabin crew describe a cabin smoke event caused by an engine malfunction and diversion to the nearest suitable airport.