Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I was picking up trash in the main cabin. The C [Flight Attendant] came to me and asked to verify the presence of a suspicious odor in the aft cabin. I followed her back and once I got to row 30; there was a very intense smell of burning electrical / hot plastic. I called the flight deck and relayed what we were smelling; and they asked us to locate a source if possible. I went back to the aft cabin and asked how the B [Flight Attendant] and C [Flight Attendant] how they were feeling. They were lightheaded and feeling 'woozy.' We began a search for the source. We suspected a device was going into thermal runaway; so we began asking passengers if they had any laptops; iPads; etc. Some passengers were asking if we were investigating the burning plastic smell. After checking devices and in-flight players in the area; we noticed no smell in overhead bins; and the odor was strongest on aircraft left; rows 29-33; coming out of PSU air. The same smell was also coming out of the aft galley; a/c right; [and] vent. I called the flight deck back and they began working checklists. The B [Flight Attendant] and C [Flight Attendant] at this point were getting more lightheaded; and developing headaches; and I could tell I was becoming lightheaded the longer I was in the affected area. I called the flight decks to relay symptom development with the B [Flight Attendant]; C [Flight Attendant]; and myself. At this point; the Captain said they could smell it in the flight deck and decided to [advise ATC]; diverting to ZZZ. We closed affected areas' PSU air vents and began preparing the cabin for arrival. I informed passengers of our diversion on our final sweep of the cabin. When we landed; the smell was still strong; and the pilots began isolating systems until we were cleared to taxi to the gate. Two passengers were treated by medical personnel at the gate (one for an anxiety attack and another for chest pain). In flight Supervisor met the aircraft and assisted us through the evening. We (flight attendants and pilots) requested medical evaluation and were transferred to hospital for further evaluation and testing.
Flight Attendant reported electrical burning fumes in the cabin; followed shortly by cockpit crew also reporting. Flight diverted and requested medical assistance at gate.