Date: 201209
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Physiological - Other; Troubleshooting
Anomaly: Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Passenger; Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Declared Emergency
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: About an hour after departing Flight Attendant C notified me of an offensive dirty socks odor in vicinity of aft galley; aircraft right coffee pots. She said she hadn't mentioned it earlier because she initially believed the source may have been a group of passenger. She said it was causing a burning sensation in her sinuses. She said passengers were not complaining. I notified the Dispatcher; began looking through the manuals for guidance; and discussed the situation with the First Officer. Flight Attendant contacted me again and explained that Flight Attendant B also noticed the odor and that Flight Attendant B had a migraine that began just before takeoff and that she had taken medication to treat the migraine. She [also] said passengers were not complaining about the odor. Shortly after; Flight Attendant B came forward to the cockpit to notify us that she was feeling 'foggy headed' and she observed that her hands were trembling. At this point we received another call from the cabin and learned that Flight Attendant A was also noticing the odor and that it was causing her throat to feel 'scratchy.' While events concerning the flight attendants were unfolding the Dispatcher suggested trying the 'QRH Smoke and Fumes' procedure. We configured the aircraft in accordance with this procedure hoping to improve air quality in the cabin. Considering the more serious symptoms reported by Flight Attendant B and once Flight Attendant C A also reported a problem we decided to make a precautionary landing at a nearby airport. I made a PA explaining the passengers that we were making a precautionary landing due to reports of poor air quality in the cabin. We donned O2 masks and declared an emergency. The descent and landing was uneventful. After landing paramedics checked the flight attendants. After landing I learned that at least one passenger in the forward part of the cabin had also made comments regarding the odor prior to my PA.

Callback: The Reporter stated that the crew left the aircraft at the divert station and did not know its status. As far as he knows; the flight attendants crew did not suffer any long term effects.



Synopsis: An A321 diverted because the flight attendants reported physical symptoms including eye; sinus and throat irritation; foggy headedness; and headaches after detecting a dirty socks odor.