B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Attendant Current
Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft; Human Factors
Upon [gate] departure the midsection of the cabin filled with powerful; severe fumes of jet fuel. Not like exhaust; but as though jet fuel was being pumped directly into the cabin. It was profoundly more intense than we had ever experienced before. FA#7 and I were in the immediate area and started coughing; eyes burning; and we covered our faces while I called the cockpit. Through the coughing; I mis-dialed and called the purser; who said the fumes had just started reaching the front of the plane. I then redialed and was telling a pilot what was occurring. He realized it was severe and put the Capt on the phone. I was told there was a problem with the left engine but it was fixed and we were good to go. The passenger adjacent to the left engine had boarded not feeling well; but started vomiting immediately after this event. We took off; did our service; and I was on first break. When I came to the back of the plane after my break; a girl was standing at 4R; saying she didn't feel well. She stayed for maybe an hour to 90 mins; vomiting; nauseated. As time went on; anoher passenger said she felt overheated. The cabin was unusually cold. She didn't know why she couldn't cool down. A passenger near her completely lost her voice. Said she had had a cold; but I did notice she had a voice earlier when I was serving her. Putting two and two together; I went to the cockpit for a discussion about this matter. My concerns were dismissed. FO told me that when the engine failed they 'blew out' the engine and the fumes came through the cabin. 'Happens every day.' I said we had 3 people who felt ill and I don't know if it was related to the fumes but that I was going to report the plane to the FAA as I felt it needed to be checked out. This seemed to anger the pilots. One said that 'some people are just irritated by smelly things' and if someone were to vomit right there in the cockpit; well; it would bother him too. I assured him that vomit and toxic fumes from jet fuel were two separate and distinct substances and we (the passengers and crew) need to be sure we aren't being harmed by the fumes. I was then asked; 'What do you want me to do? Turn around and go back?' And then he called the purser; had her wake the Capt and said we'll be landing in ZZZ. It seemed not out of concern but in retribution for my comments. A PA was made summoning the assistance of a physician to check on the girl vomiting by 4L. The physician asked her questions and I took notes. It was determined she was well enough to continue to ZZZ1. The passenger near the engine felt better also. Of course; the physician didn't know what she was looking for and no tests for carbon monoxide; or any other; poisoning were performed. We didn't know if we had just experienced a fume event; per se; but it was an event of sufficient magnitude to affect our breathing and cause great concern. It seems that if an engine fails and it needs to be 'blown out'; whatever that means (but obviously entails pushing fumes through the cabin); then it would make sense that the passengers and crew would be deplaned for the process. Especially when the plane is still at the gate. This fume event lasted no longer than 3-8 minutes; but was so intense that it undoubtedly was harmful to everyone's health. Deplane all passengers and crew for the flushing of the failed engine. Simply acknowledging what happened; especially when the pilots had foreknowledge of how this engine failure would be handled; is insufficient. Nothing was done to prevent exposure. The FO had suggested landing in ZZZ. In hindsight; perhaps that is exactly what we should have done. And gotten everyone; including the crew; medical attention.
B767 Flight Attendant reported a fume event during takeoff that caused a strong fuel smell to enter the midcabin. The Captain was called and he indicated that a malfunction had occurred during starting; but had now been corrected. Several passengers became ill.