What happened
On October 23, 2003, at approximately 07:06, an Airbus A319, registered HB-JZA, was operating a commercial flight from Geneva to Luton. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew and cabin crew detected an unusual odor spreading through the cockpit and cabin. Due to the nature of the smell, the pilots decided to abort the departure and return the aircraft to Geneva.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's air conditioning systems and the auxiliary power unit (APU) to identify the source of the odor. The inspection of the air conditioning systems revealed no malfunctions. Furthermore, no defects were identified within the components of the APU. To further investigate the air quality, a chemical analysis was performed on a Milipore filter placed within the pneumatic lines. This analysis detected only trace amounts of common organic matter.
Findings
Technical inspections confirmed that there were no systemic failures or mechanical defects contributing to the event. The presence of trace organic matter in the pneumatic filters was deemed non-hazardous and consistent with standard operating conditions. Because the APU was successfully returned to service without issue, the investigation was concluded.