Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Total 7442; Flight Crew Type 5398
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
On climbout through 4;000 feet; the flight attendants in the aft cabin called to say they had a strong electrical odor in the back of the aircraft. In less than a minute; we smelled it in the cockpit. We donned the O2 masks and ran the Smoke/Fumes checklist. [Advised ATC] and received clearance to return to ZZZ. Shortly into the checklist; the flight attendants in the back called again to say they were still getting the strong effects of the electrical odor. We landed ZZZ; and taxied to the gate to deplane.
After takeoff into IMC conditions and at approximately 3;500 feet in a climbing left turn; the Flight Attendant broke sterile cockpit to notify us pilots that there was a strong electrical fire fume smell. I was First Officer and was pilot monitoring so I took the FA's (Flight Attendant) call. I told her I will tell the Captain. I told him but as I was in process; we both confirmed we smelled it too. I said 'Smoke/Fumes' IMMEDIATE ACTION CHECKLIST' and we donned our O2 masks as I grabbed the QRH to run the checklist. The Captain called for flaps up and after takeoff checklist so I paused from QRH to clean up the aircraft from takeoff and run the after takeoff checklist. The Captain was pilot flying and took radios and [advised ATC]for electrical fumes. ATC vectored us to ZZZ. I programmed new airport in FMGC; answered message to Dispatch; got landing data etc. Then Captain briefed approach; we did descent checklist and I then became pilot flying while Captain completed the Immediate action checklist and QRH.We did not have smoke; only strong electrical fumes. Then FAs called and said their eyes were burning. We got our vector to intercept and cleared ILS to maintain 5;000 feet until ZZZZZ maintain 170 knots to ZZZZZ1. Then FA's called again to say they were feeling really sick. Captain said we were almost there. The TCAS displayed We were behind an aircraft landing ZZZ. Weather was about 200 feet above minimums. We were IMC in rain the entire flight. We landed and taxied to the gate and deplaned.
A320 flight crew reported flight attendants detected fumes on climbout; returned to departure airport.