B757-200
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft
All of a sudden I looked up and saw smoke in the cabin. I called the pilot to let him know. Call lights were ringing; the lavatory smoke alarms were going off. [I] and [another] Flight Attendant grabbed the Halon PBE and oxygen automatically and checked to find the source of the fire. We checked bathrooms; overhead bins; galleys; [but] we could not find anything [and] the smoke was getting thicker and thicker [so] we couldn't see. It was very frustrating not finding where the smoke was coming from. Passengers [were] complaining that they couldn't breathe; they were coughing. They kept asking why the oxygen masks were not coming down. They said they felt dizzy. I ran to get a cloth; wet it; and put [it] over my mouth. Passenger notified the Flight Attendant in the back that smoke was coming out of the left engine. Flight Attendant in the back 4 chimed; I picked up [and] they told the Captain about the engine; he said we are landing in [a diversion airport]. I hung up. We went and got our checklists which we could barely see. I went to close overhead bins [and] check seatbelts while Flight Attendant #1 started reading the emergency PA for emergency landing. At this time we were still overwater; people still asking for water; they can't breathe. We were descending fast; the smoke was clearing up but still was heavy. In the middle of main cabin I was closing overhead bins I see all the passengers putting their life vests on [and] they were having a difficult time opening it. I grabbed one in the empty seat closet [next] to me and showed them how to open it; which was not easy even for me. I had no time to run to my jumpseat and grab my orange life vest. Then I put it on and walked through telling them we are not landing over water; this is a precaution and showed them how to inflate the vest. Purser made sure to also inform passengers we are not landing over water. I ran to my doors; and got my assistants. I verbally explained to them to access and make sure there's no water seepage. I instructed if I can't open the doors to open them in this mode. Before you know it we were landing. It is impossible to go through the checklist exactly how it is. You remember the key points and the most important things. We landed safely we were instructed to stay on the aircraft the smell was super strong; passengers were complaining it was hot; we had a pregnant woman covering her mouth. She wanted air. After waiting about 30 minutes I called the Captain he said we could open the aircraft doors to get fresh air so we did and put the strap and stood by the doors. We waited for a while and then the passengers deplaned on ramp stands.
B757 Flight Attendant reported heavy smoke in the cabin that led to a landing at an alternate airport.