Flight Attendants reported while getting ready to start service; the aircraft started to immediately descend. The Captain made a PA that they were experiencing pressurization issues and the flight attendants experienced symptoms of rapid decompression.
Synopsis
Flight Attendants reported while getting ready to start service; the aircraft started to immediately descend. The Captain made a PA that they were experiencing pressurization issues and the flight attendants experienced symptoms of rapid decompression.
Narrative
Prior to boarding the aircraft; it was stated in the Cabin Discrepancy report that the day before Day 0; the plane had cabin pressurization issues and there was no note if it was ever resolved. Another flight attendant addressed one of the first officers if the plane was good and he just laughed and said 'yeah it should be.' We take off and while we were getting ready to start service at 20;000 ft; the plane dropped and immediately after; started rapidly descending -- the oxygen masks never deployed and the pilots [requested priority handling] landing. The first officer who was already on their crew break went back inside the flight deck and we don't hear back from them. It took a while for us to land and our ears kept popping and the whole crew was starting to experience nausea; dizziness; headaches. When we landed; one flight attendant vomited and I started to feel shaky. A passenger (XXB -- Person A) also had her hearing aid blow out. Paramedics were never called to check on the passengers or crew. Supervisors escorted us off the plane onto the jetbridge and were told that if we don't feel well enough to continue; we were to be given a negative note on our line; will not be pay protected; and we will have to follow up with our supervisor to 'see what they can do.' Meanwhile; we never had a debrief with the pilots and all three disappeared without communication. We were then told to board a new aircraft with the same passengers even though we did not have any pilots nor any ETA for the ones they eventually assigned to the flight.We waited around with passengers on board for two hours before we had some form of update. The new captain showed up but he was going to time out. No one knew where the other two first officers were and they officially cancelled the flight. The crew found out from the supervising agent that the plane was never cleared to fly and that it went back to the gate the day before due to the same issue. Maintenance was on the plane prior to departure due to another issue and the cabin pressure issue was never addressed.
Second reporter narrative
The flight started off mostly normal. We checked in on time; stowed our items; completed our cabin checks; and briefed with the purser. However; during our briefing with the pilots; FA A did ask whether this plane was good to go since it did have decompression issues on the discrepancy report. In response; one of the pilots replied that he didn't know but it should be OK. We boarded the aircraft; closed up; pushed back; taxied; and took off as normal. After takeoff; somewhere after 20;000 ft; I experienced the plane take a sharp drop in the air. I could also feel that the aircraft was rapidly descending rather than ascending. At this time we were preparing the first class cabin for service. I had just completed setting up my beverage cart when I started feeling light headed and dizzy and my ears were popping constantly. The captain called up front and asked our purser if the oxygen masks had deployed to which our purser replied no they had not. The captain then instructed the purser to wake the first officer on break and have him return to the flight deck. No other information on the situation was given at this time; including a lack of brief information. We quickly realized as a crew that something wasn't right as all of us working in the first class cabin were experiencing the same symptoms and so we made the decision to stow the carts. The symptoms I was experiencing nearly made me grab an oxygen bottle to use for myself. The captain eventually made a PA that the plane was experiencing pressurization issues and that we would be returning to ZZZ. That is all the information I recall receiving from the pilots. At this time; the flight attendants started preparing the cabin for landing. As I was returning coats and waking passengers up for seat compliance checks; my ears were consistently popping and my discomfort was very much visible to passengers. We circled around for quite some time I'm assuming to dump fuel before landing in ZZZ. When we got to the gate and I stood up; I felt even more dizzy; nauseous; disoriented; and I had sharp pain in the middle of my forehead. I struggled to stand upright and to apologize to passengers for the inconvenience as they were deplaning. I realized quickly that I was struggling to find words and speak full sentences. I knew I did not feel safe to continue having to perform safety duties. When all passengers were off the plane; we received no debrief from the captain however he did say he started to feel a headache towards the end. I felt too disoriented to continue asking him for more information on what happened. The pilots then left the aircraft. The first supervisor met us at the boarding door where I first made it clear that I wasn't feeling well and that I did not feel safe to continue performing my required duties. Several other FAs also voiced their concerns on their health. We were told we could go up to the concourse and take some time to think about our decision. Up in the concourse; we were then met by another supervisor whom I also relayed the same information on how unwell I was feeling and that i didn't feel safe to continue performing my required duties. We then asked what would happen to us if we weren't feeling well enough to continue on to which we were told that we would receive a negative note and points which we could likely fight and that we most likely were not guaranteed our pay for the trip. The supervisors told us to take some time to think and make a decision while they check on the status of the our new aircraft. While sitting outside gate X; I realized I had left my link on the aircraft so I slowly and dizzily walked over to gate X. I spoke to the gate agents and informed them of my link on the plane and I kept repeating that it was at seat 1L. As the agent was opening the door to go down the jetway; I realized my mistake and corrected myself that I left the link on seat 1A and not 1L. After having my link retrieved; I walked back to the rest of the crew where we were met with another supervisor. Once again; I relayed how unwell I was feeling and how unsafe I felt to continue my required duties. He also repeated that if we were to be taken off the trip; we would have negative notes and points placed on our lines which likely will be taken off and that we weren't guaranteed our pay for the trip. After hearing this multiple times from different supervisors; we each decided that although we were not feeling well and didn't feel safe to perform our required duties; we felt pressured to continue on or risk disciplinary and punitive actions. The original pilots however were taken off the pairing immediately and replaced with new pilots. The FAs boarded the new aircraft at XA:46 and I immediately threw up in the lavatory. Before being able to stow my personal items. I took my time completing my safety checks after as I felt very slow and sluggish. Passenger boarding commenced at XA:59. My position had me greeting at the boarding door and i felt I couldn't properly do my job as I struggled to greet passengers and direct them. We also had the added challenge of catering being done while trying to board the aircraft. Several passengers asked me if I was OK as I looked tired; dazed; and confused. To some I was able to respond with the truth that I was not OK and that I was not well while to others I simply didn't answer because I struggled to form sentences and speak clearly. Another passenger (XXB - Person A) who's hearing aid blew out during the decompression asked if there was any way she could pay to upgrade herself to first class due to the discomfort she had in her ears. The purser had her speak to a gate agent to which they replied that there was nothing they could do for her. After we finished boarding; we still had to wait on catering as we still needed new hot meals to replace the ones that were spoiled from the previous flight. We were also waiting on our new flight deck to show up. Egress was offered to passengers at XC:06. We received the new hot meals shortly after. New captain arrived at XC:37 who informed the crew that they were not going to be legal to go as he was the only one there so far and they went illegal at XD:04. The captain made an announcement to the passengers that the flight would be officially cancelled and he tried to proactively get united to cancel the flight as he would not be legal to work. Passengers were deplaned and cabin crew stayed onboard to await reassignment. After receiving reassignment; I requested a hotel and transportation as I did not feel safe to get home on my own. I was assigned a hotel around XE:15 and my van did not show up to the airport pickup until XF:13. I arrived at the hotel around XG:00. When I went to reception to check in; I felt body aches; headaches; and I felt confused. The receptionist kindly signed the necessary paperwork for me as he could tell I was visibly out of it. I entered my room around XG:08 and struggled to complete my necessary hotel and nighttime routine. I slept at XG:45 and woke up at XN:00 to continued headaches and body aches.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.