PAX RPT; B727-200. MSP-LAX. CABIN ATTENDANT COOKING OWN NON AIRLINE MEAL WITH PLASTIC COVERING CREATED SMOLDERING SMELL IN OVEN DRAWER. PAX VERY CONCERNED.

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I SMELLED HOT OR BURNING PLASTIC. I LOOKED AROUND AND OTHERS WERE NOTICING IT TOO. I GOT UP AND WENT TO THE GALLEY TO RPT IT. THERE WERE 2 FLT ATTENDANTS IN THE GALLEY. I TOLD THEM I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE OVEN. I RETURNED TO MY SEAT; BUT THE SMELL CONTINUED. I GOT UP TO TRY AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AS SOON AS I REACHED THE GALLEY DOOR; THE SMELL CEASED. I COULD TELL THE FLT ATTENDANTS WERE PREPARING THEIR OWN MEAL. I RETURNED TO MY SEAT. THE SMELL GOT STRONGER AFTER A FEW MINS. I AGAIN GOT UP TO RPT IT TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS. THEY HAD JUST REMOVED A PLASTIC TRAY OF MACARONI AND CHEESE IN A BLACK PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH A CLEAR PLASTIC TOP. THE PLASTIC ON TOP HAD CHARRED BLACK. THEY SAID IT HAD JUST TOASTED SOME FOOD THAT HAD TOUCHED IT. I RETURNED TO MY SEAT AND THE SMELL SUBSIDED. THIS WAS ON FLT XX ON NOV/XA/00. I FELT THERE WAS A REAL DANGER OF THE PLASTIC CONTAINER IGNITING AND FEEL CONFIDENT THIS ACTIVITY IS NOT PERMITTED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE FLT ATTENDANTS REACTED TO HIS LAST INQUIRY LIKE LITTLE KIDS WOULD WHEN THEY GOT THEIR HANDS STUCK IN A COOKIE JAR. HE FELT THEY WERE EMBARRASSED ABOUT THEIR MISTAKE OF COOKING A NON AIRLINE PACKAGED MEAL THAT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE PUT IN THE AIRPLANE'S OVENS. THE PACKAGE WAS LIKE A SMOLDERING FIRE AND WAS SMOKY. THE RPTR STATED THAT HE GOT THE ASRS RPTING FORM OFF THE INTERNET.