Air carrier Flight Attendants reported smoke filled the passenger cabin along with a fire smell while on initial approach. The flight continued to a safe landing.
Synopsis
Air carrier Flight Attendants reported smoke filled the passenger cabin along with a fire smell while on initial approach. The flight continued to a safe landing.
Narrative
Flight attendants were already seated for landing as we were below 10;000 ft. I was seated at 1L. I looked towards the galley and noticed the slide indicator light was off at door 1R. It went on/off approximately every 30 secs. I made a mental note to tell the pilots to write it up for maintenance upon arrival. My thought was there was a short in the wiring. As I was thinking this; I began to smell a burning rubber smell but did not see anything unusual in the galley. As I was getting out of my jumpseat to check the ovens and coffee makers (they were off); I looked down the main aisle. I saw forward cabin was covered in a hazy white smoke and past door 2L/R was covered in a thicker white smoke. I could make out 2 other flight attendants; who were seated at door 2; were in the aisle opening overhead bins; looking for the source. Right then; I also heard passengers saying 'fire'; although there were no flames visible. It did not appear as if a source had been found. I first contacted the flight deck to inform them of the situation. I gave them the information I had based on my own observations. As we were well into descent I felt I didn't have time to gather more information first. The pilots said we would be on the ground very soon; turn all the lights off. I made an announcement telling the passengers to remain calm; stating Flight Attendants are trained professionals. I asked them to remain seated with seatbelts fastened and to follow all crew members instructions. I then took my halon extinguisher and joined the other flight attendants in their search for the source of the smoke. I asked passengers if they heard any sounds; saw any flashes or anything else that might help us locate the source of the smoke. No one did.Just prior to touchdown; the flight attendants took their jump seats. At this time the smoke in the cabin began to dissipate fairly quickly.After landing the Captain called to ask if we thought we could taxi to gate or an evacuation was necessary. We agree that because the smoke was dissipating;and we were being escorted by fire safety trucks; that we would taxi to the gate. At the gate; fire rescue walked on and checked the aircraft. They said we could use emergency lights to deplane passengers. The crew did not find any evidence of fire on the aircraft; nor did we find anything that could be identified as a source of the smoke. The man seated in XX stated as he deplaned that he had turned on his reading light immediately prior to the smoke filling the cabin. No passengers were injured during these events; everyone walked off without complaint.
Second reporter narrative
After the 10;000 double ding; there was smell of fire and I had to get out of my jumpseat to check where it was coming from. I was able to get back into my jumpseat seconds before landing. The other flight attendant in 4L couldn't make it back to her jumpseat in time so she has to take the jumpseat next to me. She was able to make it back to her jumpseat to disarm her doors when we had arrived to the gate.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.