Date: 202001
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Captain notified Flight Attendant at 10;000 feet that the flight deck noticed an unusual odor in flight and fumes in cabin. Flight Attendant confirmed the smell by flight deck of what seemed to smell like electric burning. Captain notified Flight Attendant that the aircraft would be returning to original destination (ZZZ). Upon arrival; Lieutenant - Department of Public Safety for ZZZ met the aircraft and witnessed the smell of fumes/odor in the cabin. Flight was subsequently canceled. Flight Attendant noticed dizziness and light headedness upon deplaning. Safety team administered oxygen; and [medical] inflight was in communication. Flight Attendant was transported to medical center for examination and tests performed to assess toxic exposure. Blood pressure was high and heart rate elevated. Once stabilized; physician on duty signed off on return to duty with follow up instructions. Flight Attendant completed paperwork with [medical] inflight.No procedures for flight attendants when fumes/odor in cabin are experienced. Flight Attendant asked Captain if he should don oxygen from POB source in cabin. Captain was unfamiliar with a procedure for Flight Attendant for procedure for fumes in the cabin. Flight deck has oxygen source available for both pilots. Flight Attendant has POB sources for use in the cabin aside from the oxygen source in oxygen masks that are deployed during a decompression. Passengers have no oxygen source other than oxygen masks that are deployed during a decompression. In this incident; the flight for passengers was deemed unsafe; yet the Flight Attendant was scheduled by the scheduling department to deadhead on a 'ferry flight.' If it was deemed unsafe for passengers; it should subsequently be deemed unsafe for cabin crew. Proper procedures for fumes/odor in the cabin would have prevented. Proper filtration system on aircraft would prevent fumes/odor in cabin thereby preventing exposure to toxic air in the cabin for both employees and passengers. Continuous exposure to toxicities present in fumes/odor in the cabin has the potential of producing long term side effects up to and including chronic and fatal injuries.Establish procedures for flight attendants for exposure to fumes in the cabin. (E.g. don oxygen from POB or other oxygen source). Establish procedures and protocol for medical examination for workplace toxicity hazards due to fume/odor exposure in cabin. Identify filtration system to prevent fumes/odor in cabin to reduce exposures to flight crew and passengers. At a minimum provide cabin crew members with workplace respiratory masks to wear with appropriate filters to minimize continuous exposures to fumes/odor in the cabin to reduce the long term side effects that would result in long term exposure.




Synopsis: EMB-145 Captain reported executing an air return due to fumes in cockpit. Flight Attendant experienced fumes in passenger cabin resulting in physiological issues which were treated at local medical center.