A FLT ATTENDANT RPT REGARDING AN MD80 FLT THAT HAD TO RETURN/LAND BECAUSE OF SMOKE IN CABIN FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE NEAR SJC; CA.

Narrative

IN THE FIRST 5 TO 7 MINS OF TKOF I SMELLED A WEIRD OIL FUMES SMELL. WITHIN 10 MINS WE HAD SMOKE OVER WINGS AND BACK OF MAIN CABIN. I STARTED TO CALL #2 FLT ATTENDANT WHEN I PICKED UP THE PHONE; SHE WAS ALL READY CALLING ME. SHE CONFIRMED WITH ME OF THE SMELL AND SMOKE. I ASKED HER TO GET FLT ATTENDANT #4 ON THE PHONE TO GET HER VIEW ON THIS. I WANTED TO GET A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF WHERE AND WHAT THE SMELL WAS LIKE; AS MY NEXT STEP WAS TO THE COCKPIT. I INFORMED THE CAPT OF SMELL AND SMOKE AND WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE. HE INFORMED ME WE WERE GOING TO BE MAKING AN EMER LNDG IN SJC AND TO MAKE SURE PAX ARE SEATED AND NOT TO TAKE ANY BAGS WITH THEM. HE SAID HE WOULD LET ME KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE AN EMER EVACUATION. I MADE MY PA AS INFORMED AND LET THE OTHER FLT ATTENDANTS KNOW THAT WE WOULD WAIT FOR THE CAPT TO SIGNAL IF WE NEEDED TO EVACUATE. WE TOOK OUR JUMP SEAT LANDED AND DISARMED OUR DOORS GOT ALL PAX OFF. THEN WE MET THE MGR ON DUTY. WE DID NOT LIKE HOW THAT WENT AT ALL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: FLT ATTENDANT NOTED THAT THE MGR ON DUTY (MOD) WAS 'UP TIGHT' AND NOT VERY FRIENDLY. THE CABIN CREW WERE TO BE DEBRIEFED BUT THE MOD WANTED THEM OVER TO ANOTHER ACFT TO PROTECT A FLT WITH THE 80 SOME ODD PAX FROM THE RETURNED FLT. THE CAPT WAS ALREADY ON HIS WAY TO THE NEW ACFT. THE FLT ATTENDANTS SAID THAT THEY WERE TO BE DEBRIEFED AND THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION BEFORE A NEW CABIN TEAM WAS CALLED OUT AND THE CURRENT ONE RELEASED FROM DUTY. THEY WERE TOO STRESSED OUT FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE TRIP. THERE WAS NO REASON GIVEN FOR THE SMOKE. THE FLT ATTENDANTS HAD GOTTEN OFF THE FLT AFTER THE PAX BUT WERE SENT BACK WITH THE PAX TO GET CARRY ON AFTER THE CFR GAVE AN ALL CLEAR OF THE ACFT.