CRJ700 Flight attendant crew reported a pressurization malfunction and lack of communication from the flight crew resulting in an expedited descent and handling medical issues with the passengers. The flight landed at the destination and medical personnel met the flight after landing to attend to passengers and crew.
Synopsis
CRJ700 Flight attendant crew reported a pressurization malfunction and lack of communication from the flight crew resulting in an expedited descent and handling medical issues with the passengers. The flight landed at the destination and medical personnel met the flight after landing to attend to passengers and crew.
Narrative
On Day 0; en route from ZZZ- CRJ 700 /typically holds XX Passengers + Crew and that particular flight had an estimated 3-4 empty seats. Safety and Compliance issue #1. prior to departure the Gate Agent told 2 passengers they could swap seats in order to have an adult sit next to a minor in row XX ([Seats] 1 and 2) told passengers assigned to [row] XY 1 and 2 (exit row) they would be able to ask passengers in Row XZ to switch so the young men could sit together. Meanwhile the correct passengers in XX 1 was displaced due to the adult sitting with the child in XX 1 and 2. The Gate Agent never spoke to either flight attendant (FA) about rearranging seats and not updating. This held boarding up from 4 people now needing to rearrange their assigned seats due to the Gate Agent's non communication. This is very important to note in the beginning of this narrative because of the safety issues and concerns that would later arise; had we not been aware of all the seat changes; when we landed with priority handling; people should not be reseated during boarding unless the Gate Agent communicates with the FA's. The Captain was told about what was happening with the seat debacle before door closure from the Forward FA.In flight; we never received the 10;000 feet chime; as seasoned FA's we knew there was not weather keeping us in our seat and we also knew the First Officer (FO) Person A was on their 2nd day of Operating Experience; so we gave much grace to them inflight training and continued on to do our cabin service.Prepared my cart for a Coffee; Water; Tea (beer and wine) service in the main cabin; made my way all the way to row XX for main cabin service when suddenly the aircraft became extremely hot; my head felt massive pressure; the minor in XX 2 said is this normal? With my back to the rest of the cabin; I said yes; but unbeknownst to me the front of the cabin was in complete chaos. As I backed up; I continued to feel pressure in my head and my cart began to push me down the aisle towards the galley. As I looked as I was backing up - the Forward FA was waving her hands at me to come this way. When I get to Row XA a woman was standing up yelling; 'When is the Captain going to get on the PA and tell us what the [expletive] just happened?' I turned to her and said ma'am what is going on and how can I help and she said someone needs to tell us what is going on! The aircraft is now descending at a very rapid speed; keep in mind all this happened very quickly. I get to the galley to put my cart away and to get an update from the other FA as I am passing aisles people are vomiting; shaking; pale; screaming 'we are going to die!' the Forward FA explains she just spoke to the Captain and he said they lost pressurization due to 2 different failures and warnings in the cockpit. I secure my cart; start getting cups of ice; small waters; wet paper towels; large garbage bags to assist those getting sick. The aircraft is still unsteady and experiencing turbulence. Passenger in XB [Seat] 3 was by far the sickest on board and needed medical attention right away and asked could we have paramedics meet the aircraft. at this point Person B (Forward FA is heading back with small waters to give out and check on passengers; I am calling the Captain on the interphone to let him know we are experiencing at least 3 medical events at this time but passengers in XB 3 is by far the worst off. Captain tells me he is finished with his checklists; he can now talk to us - he proceeds to say he would reach out to ATC to get permission to drop below 10;000 feet and begin heading right for ZZZ1 for priority handling; he asked the passengers name in XB 3. We did in the mean time ask for medical personnel on the aircraft and the one nurse on board was profusely vomiting and could not assist. We were close enough to landing and our three ill passengers were all conscious so we held off on calling medical services for assistance.I made 2 announcements very loud on thePA asking passengers to stay seated until the medical personnel and fire department made there way on board. (firefighters had to check the CO2 levels; prior to releasing passengers off the aircraft. When the crew left the aircraft the 2 FA's proceeded to sit in the lobby of the ZZZ1 airport and the Captain and FO stayed on board doing paperwork. Both FA's had their blood pressure taking by EMTs and both were elevated. Upon reaching the hotel shuttle and getting on board the Captain says 'What kind of questions do you have for me?' Mind you he and the FO never made announcements that were legible for passengers to hear; they were all muffled and the FO had already told Person B that she and the Captain donned their oxygen masks; BUT never let us know what state the aircraft was in; our oxygen masks never dropped nor were we told to manually open and let the masks down with our safety pins. Everything happened very quickly and to find out afterwards that the pressure and feeling we were feeling in our head and body was from decompression in the cabin. We never had a triple chime from the flight deck nor any communication as to what was going on; but we are facing 65 passengers taking verbal bullets for the flight deck because nothing was ever communicated properly to anyone. We understand there is a lot going on in the cock pit during warning lights and malfunctions; but it does not help when the FO pulls (something on the dash of the plane; that should have not been pulled.'Passenger while exiting the plane most in tears; hugged and told us we did a great job in keeping them abreast after we knew what was going on.Our Captain had a round table discussion with the crew once we reached the hotel and explained to us the three major issues that arouse in the flight deck - the terminology is nothing I am accustomed to hearing but it was very clear that both FO and Captain needed O2 and she was reaching hypoxia and when he grabbed his mask it was malfunctioning and not working. Not only did the oxygen masks in the back of the aircraft not drop the Captains mask was inop and we were never given a heads up to what was going on this entire time; besides the Captain saying we had decompression! Cause: Cause of the 3 major issues in the flight deck will need to be accessed from the notes in the maintenance log. Again we do not understand the verbiage and lingo the Captain was relaying just that 3 things went wrong one after the other; back to back. My notes from that meeting include these bullet points: Right Air Duct Bleed; ISO engine valve failed; we were at an altitude of 22;000 feet when the FO felt hypoxia setting in; the FO pulled the spoilers; flight deck never triple chimed nor made a proper announcement to the passengers or the FA'sBetter communication between the flight deck and the FA's during an decompression event.Both flight attendants had symptoms of decompression. I needed medical attention from EMT's at the hotel on Day 1 from a panic attack; from fear of getting back on to the aircraft to continue working my trip.Suggestions: I am just stating the facts here. We were not told about the pressurization error in the cabin and the oxygen masks never deployed along with the Captain's mask did not work at all.
Second reporter narrative
I am submitting this descriptive narrative to formally document multiple safety and compliance issues that occurred on Day 0; aboard Flight #ABCD from ZZZ to ZZZ1; aircraft CRJ-700.Aircraft and Passenger Information - The CRJ-700 typically accommodates XX passengers plus crew. This flight departed with approximately 3-4 empty seats.Safety and Compliance Issue #1 - Improper Seat Reassignments During BoardingPrior to departure; the gate agent instructed two passengers to swap seats so an adult could sit next to a minor in Row XX (1 and 2). The gate agent then informed passengers assigned to XY 1 and XY 2 (exit row) that they could ask passengers in Row XZ to change seats so the two young men could sit together.As a result: The correctly assigned passenger in XX 1 was displaced. At least four passengers were required to rearrange seats. No communication occurred between the Gate Agent and the flight attendants. Seat changes were not updated.This lack of communication delayed boarding and created significant safety concerns; particularly relevant given the medical issues and urgent landing that later occurred. Re-seating during boarding should never occur without direct coordination with flight attendants - when the apps we use for seating are not updated with proper pax names in the seats they are supposed to be in. The Captain was informed of this seat debacle by the forward Flight Attendant prior to door closure.In-Flight Pressurization Event and Medical IssuesDuring flight; the cabin never received the 10;000-foot chime. As experienced flight attendants; we were aware there was no weather or turbulence that would typically prevent this. We also understood the First Officer was on her second day of OE; and we proceeded with cabin service.While conducting service near Row XX; the aircraft suddenly became extremely hot. I experienced intense pressure in my head; and a minor in XX 2 asked if this was normal. With my back to the cabin; I was unaware that the forward cabin was already in distress.As I moved back towards the front of the aircraft: My service cart began rolling uncontrollably due to aircraft movement. The forward flight attendant urgently waved me forward. A passenger near Row XA stood up yelling; When is the Captain going to get on the PA and tell us what the [expletive] just happened?"*At this time; the aircraft was descending rapidly.As I moved through the cabin; passengers were: vomiting; shaking; pale; screaming statements such as "We are going to die"The forward Flight Attendant informed me she had just spoken with the Captain; who stated the aircraft lost pressurization due to three separate failures and cockpit warnings.Medical Response and Communication BreakdownWe immediately began aiding the passengers: Ice; water; wet towels; and large gray bags were distributed. The aircraft continued to experience turbulence and instability. Passenger XB 3 was the most critically ill and required immediate medical attention. The Captain requested priority handling and requested ATC to have paramedics meet the aircraft.I contacted the Captain via interphone and advised we were experiencing at least three medical issues; with passenger XB 3 being the most severe. The Captain stated he had completed his checklists and would: Contact ATC; descend below 10;000 feet; divert directly to ZZZ1A request for medical personnel onboard was made; however; the only nurse onboard was actively vomiting and unable to assist. As all ill passengers remained conscious and landing was imminent; MEDLINK was not contacted.Oxygen and Procedure FailuresAt no point during this event: Did the flight deck issue a triple chime; did the oxygen masks in the cabin deploy; were flight attendants instructed to manually deploy oxygen masks; were we informed of the severity of the pressurization loss.It was later disclosed that: the flight deck crew donned oxygen masks; the Captain's oxygen mask malfunctioned; the First Officerwas experiencing hypoxia; the First Officer pulled the spoilers; the aircraft was at approximately 22;000 feet when hypoxia symptoms beganWe were never informed of these conditions during the event. As a result; flight attendants were left to manage 65 distressed passengers without adequate information; bearing the brunt of passenger fear and frustration due to lack of flight deck communication.Post-Landing EventsUpon landing: firefighters boarded to check CO2 levels; passengers were instructed (via two very loud and clear announcements) to remain seated until cleared; passengers exited in tears; many hugging the flight attendants and thanking usBoth flight attendants had their blood pressure checked by EMTs; and readings were elevated.The Captain and First Officer remained onboard completing paperwork while the flight attendants waited in the terminal. Later; while boarding the hotel shuttle; the Captain initiated a discussion of the incident. This conversation continued during transport to the hotel; in full hearing of the shuttle driver; which should have been a private crew conversation.Captain's Post-Event BriefingDuring a roundtable discussion at the hotel; the Captain explained three major flight deck failures; which included: Right Air Duct Bleed failure; ISO engine valve failure; First Officer pulling Spoilers and rapid onset hypoxia affecting the First OfficerThe exact causes are documented in the maintenance log.Summary:I am stating the facts as they occurred: The cabin crew was not informed of the pressurization problem in real time; oxygen masks did not deploy; nor were we instructed to deploy them manually; the Captain's oxygen mask was inoperative; the flight deck failed to properly communicate with the crew and passengersDespite these challenges; the cabin crew acted professionally to manage a highly distressed cabin and multiple medical issues.This narrative is submitted for documentation; review; and appropriate follow-up.Cause: Due to lack of proper communication with the flight deck and the flight attendants; also faulty oxygen masks."
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.