Air Canada regional jet reports lavatory smell in cabin and cockpit

An Air Canada flight from Washington, D.C. to Montreal continued to its destination after the crew reported a foul smell that started in the cabin and later reached the cockpit.

The flight, AC8822, was operated by Jazz Aviation with a Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR registered C-FJFZ. It departed Washington on schedule for Montreal Trudeau International Airport.

About 25 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 33,000 feet near Philadelphia, cabin crew raised concerns about a recurring odour coming from the lavatories. Flight attendants told the flight deck of a possible waste line leak and said the smell was moving through the passenger cabin at intervals. Crew also noted the aircraft had flown a route out of Toronto earlier in the day before the Washington leg.

Roughly 20 minutes later, the flight crew confirmed the fumes had entered the cockpit, describing the smell as nauseating over communication lines.

The source does not state whether anyone on board sought medical attention or whether the flight declared an emergency. The crew kept control of the aircraft and monitored systems for mechanical or pressure alerts linked to the environmental controls. The flight remained on its northbound track.

It was expected to land normally in Montreal at about 11:30 a.m. local time. Maintenance teams were to inspect the five-year-old regional jet at the gate after arrival.