Date: 202007
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Upon initial climbout from ZZZ about 1 minute after takeoff at 2500 feet MSL; the flight deck vent airflow decreased significantly. Engine; pressurization and pack indications were normal. The FO (First Officer) and I noticed that I had adjusted the temperature selectors full cold due to the very humid 100 degree conditions at ZZZ. We both agreed that the air conditioning systems had likely iced up based on previous aircraft experience. The FO selected higher temperatures to melt any ice. About a minute later; airflow returned to normal. At the same time we received an interphone call; which the FO answered; from FA1 (Flight Attendant 1) saying hot air was flowing into the cabin and it smelled like dirty socks. The FO said we turned the temperature up but would now turn it down and to call back if the problem did not get better. Cool air returned to the flight deck and cabin and we continued to ZZZ1 uneventfully. During the post flight walk around at ZZZ1; the FO discovered a bird strike in the right engine with feathers on the bypass fan blades and core compressor blades. During the van ride to the hotel; FA2; FA3; & FA4 said they called FA1 during the hot airflow incident on initial climbout and reported they smelled burned chicken; cooked chicken; and a burned bird strike smell. When FA1 called the flight deck; she said it smelled like dirty socks. My decision to continue to ZZZ1 would have [been] different if I had heard any words like burned; cooked; chicken; or bird strike. The decision of FA1 to not relay the very accurate observations of FA2; FA3; & FA4 to the flight deck was not good and could have allowed serious consequences to develop including engine failure; engine destruction; human injuries or loss of life. As a Captain; I listen very carefully to the observations of flight attendants and consider everything seriously. I suggest flight attendants do the same for each other.


Second narrative: Upon initial climb out from ZZZ about a minute after takeoff about 2;500 ft; the flight deck vent airflow decreased significantly. Engine; pressurization and packs indications were normal. The CA (Captain) and I noticed that he had adjusted the temp. selectors to full cold due to very humid 100 degree conditions at ZZZ. We both agreed that the air conditioning systems had likely iced up based on previous aircraft experience. I turned the selectors at a higher temperatures to melt any ice. About 1 minute later; the airflow returned to normal. At the same time we received a call from the cabin. I answered it and FA1 (Flight Attendant 1) saying the hot air was flowing into the cabin and smelled like dirty socks. Which I repeated 'dirty socks' to make sure that was the smell. I told her we turned the temp up but would now turn it down. Also to call back it the smell or heat didn't get any better. I also called back about 5 min later to check on the smell and temp. The FA's did say the smell was going away or gone and temp was cooling down better. With the cool air returned to the flight deck and cabin; and we continued to ZZZ1 uneventfully. During the post flight at ZZZ1 I discovered a bird strike in the right engine. There was feathers on the bypass fan blades and the core compressor blades. During the van ride to the hotel; FA2; FA3; and FA4 said they called FA1 during the hot airflow incident on the initial climb out and reported they smelled burnt chicken; cooked chicken; and or a burnt bird strike smell. When FA1 called the flight deck she said it smelled like dirty socks. His decision to continue to ZZZ1 would have been different if he had heard any words like burnt; cooked; chicken; or bird strike. The decision of FA1 not relaying the very accurate observations of FA2; FA3 and FA4 to the flight deck was not good and could have allowed to something more serious.


Synopsis: B737-800 flight crew reported communication issues between the flight deck crew and flight attendant crew regarding odor in the cabin.