An A320 diverted because a sulfuric type odor in the cabin made flight attendants and passengers ill. Some required medical attention.
Synopsis
An A320 diverted because a sulfuric type odor in the cabin made flight attendants and passengers ill. Some required medical attention.
Narrative
While at FL350 cruise; flight attendants notified flight deck of a suspicious acrid/burning sulphuric type fumes/odor in cabin emanating from row 10 to aft of the aircraft. Passengers were also aware of odor and were voicing complaints and concerns to cabin crew. We responded to cabin crew to keep us informed if it got worse. We first attempted to mitigate/dissipate smell by switching to hi on packs selector with no noticeable results. We then attempted to isolate the source by alternately operating left and right air conditioning packs with no results. Smell continued to get worse according to cabin/passengers (although we had no detection or smell in cockpit). We then elected to accomplish fumes/smoke QRH. Since passengers were complaining and concerned (as well as flight attendants) we elected to divert to a nearby airport.We did not declare emergency to ATC; however; we requested priority handling with a description of cabin fumes/odor issue. We accomplished the 'test' issues with cabin crew and accomplished a normal (but over weight) landing and proceeded to assigned gate. Station personnel were waiting for us. I had the passengers remain on board until conferring with dispatch and maintenance control; then arranged with station personnel to allow passengers into gate area for possible rebooking. I also arranged for medical personnel to be at gate and notified passengers that if anyone was feeling ill that they should inform EMT personnel. All 3 flight attendants were feeling ill and after conferring with the EMT personnel; elected to go to hospital to be checked out; as well as some of the passengers. Cabin crew was admitted and subsequently discharged. I arranged to have them RON. Captain and First Officer suffered no ill effects except for a continuous low-grade head ache for me (Captain) that has lasted through the next day. All information documented in the maintenance log as well as cabin air safety report was faxed to Maintenance Control. There is indeed something that cause the fumes/odor; as they somewhat dissipated when thrust levers/power retarded for descent. I suspect either a seal/o-ring in engines or air cycle machines. At no time was smell/odor detectable on flight deck.
NASA callback
The Reporter stated that the flight attendants in the aft cabin as well as some passengers complained of eye irritation; nasal/airway irritation and breathing difficulty. The smell was described a sulfuric in nature; and acrid as when a match head is struck during lighting. After the flight attendants third call the Reporter realized that the flight crew could not control the irritants entry and so decided to divert. At no point did the smell enter the cockpit but the Reporter did experience a low grade headache for two days after this event and he attributed it to whatever the chemical was because he virtually never gets headaches. He is aware of similar events on the B757 and the Airbus aircraft but his air carrier attributed the events to job actions and safety slow downs not mechanical malfunctions. The Reporter is now a firm believer that this event was real and caused by something originating in the aircraft. He has an A&P license and believes that whatever is causing this type event is a systemic issue which must be addressed before someone dies. All of the flight attendants are back at work with no apparent long term effects but Reporter states that is not the case with another crew which experienced a similar event and has been off work for months.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.