Air carrier flight attendant crew reported a strong and overwhelming odor during boarding resulting in an aircraft swap and rescheduling of the flight. All flight attendants experienced physiological symptoms.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight attendant crew reported a strong and overwhelming odor during boarding resulting in an aircraft swap and rescheduling of the flight. All flight attendants experienced physiological symptoms.
Narrative
Upon boarding the aircraft at approximately XA30 hours I noticed a foul unusual odor. I was unable to determine the cause or what the odor was. The other flight attendants also commented about the odor. I began to do my pre-flight safety checks when I started to feel a burning sensation in my throat and a lightheaded/foggy sensation. During the crew briefing; many of the flight attendants commented about the bad smell and the adverse physical reactions they were feeling. The Captain ended up refusing the plane due to the smell/fumes and the physical reactions being caused by them.We were instructed to go to [Gate] XX to board another plane. While briefing in the gate area at XX the Captain asked the flight attendants how many were still feeling the adverse effects from the fumes on the previous aircraft. The large majority of the flight attendants informed the Captain that the feelings of headaches; fogginess; burning sensation in the breathing canals (nose/throat); etc. had not subsided. The Captain then asked all of us if we were to have to evacuate the aircraft that night would we be at 100% with the symptoms we were feeling. Most of the FA's (Flight Attendant) responded with a resounding; No". The Captain then decided to cancel the flight for safety reasons. The on-duty in-flight Supervisor; Person A; who was present during this briefing said she was going to call scheduling and have everyone removed from the flight. We were not removed from the flight but instead rescheduled to work the flight the next morning. Supervisor Person A then advised all of the FA's not feeling well to call in sick which would later be changed into an OJI (on the job injury) since the ailments were caused by an aircraft failure."
Second reporter narrative
I checked in for Flight as normal. Some of crew were already on board the aircraft except a Purser. I boarded as normal did my safety checks and waited for Scheduling to assign a Purser so we could do a briefing. During that time I could smell a slight chemical odor but at that time wasn't very strong. Reserve finally showed up to do the Purser position and decided to take over as Purser. We had to assist the Reserve in her duties since she was assigned last minute with no Supervisor to assist her even though the position had been open for hours. Captain had a briefing and at that time said the odor was very strong in the cockpit and they had called for Maintenance. After Captain briefed us Purser did her briefing and then we continued to prep the aircraft for passengers. I assisted Reserve on how to take meal orders in first class and how to do the service. Maintenance came on board and said they had to burn off the fumes and turned the heat up. At that point the odor was stronger and the whole crew was still on board organizing galleys; aisles and equipment before boarding. We stayed on board because Maintenance said fumes would burn off. They then turned the heat off and turned the AC colder and the smell seemed to dissipate a little but the odor was still coming from the vents. I could smell the odor through the aisles and in the galleys. After being on the aircraft for over an hour they decided to change aircraft. I could feel a little lighthead and small headache on my left side and really dry eyes. We all gathered our bags and I walked from Gate X to XX. At that time I could feel my breathing become shallower because I have asthma.When we got to Gate XX Captain gathered everyone to ask how we felt. We expressed our concerns and all had some of the symptoms; lighthead; dizzy; headaches; lethargic and Captain decided not to fly and discussed having us removed with Supervisor. Supervisor stated that she would have us all taken off the flight and we would not have to work but would have to call and get our sick call turned to an OJI. As we were all leaving Reserve received a call from Scheduling stating that we were working the flight at XN:00. I called Supervisor immediately at XA:48 and asked why we were still working the flight. She said she would call Scheduling and have us removed. We continued to walk to the crew bus but we're still showing working so we called Scheduling again and they said they hadn't talked to any Supervisor. I called Supervisor again at XA:59 and she again stated she would call them. At XB:01 she called me back stating that they were working on it. A group of us went downstairs to see if we could find a Supervisor to talk to but there was nobody in the crew room. So we called Supervisor again and at that time she stated she talked to her Assistant Manager and we all needed to call in individually as a sick call. The whole cabin crew team should have been removed for possible fumes or chemical exposure. What happened to safety first?
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.