Date: 202001
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise; Parked
Aircraft component: APU
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; 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 Crew; Person Flight Attendant; Person Other Person; Person Passenger
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: A very bad odor was present when we boarded the plane. I am Flight Attendant Number 2. The Flight Attendant Number 4 came back and said; what is that awful smell? I said please go up and tell the Captain. The Captain came back and said the same thing. We asked to call Maintenance as it was very strong. Passengers boarded before Maintenance arrived. The Captain turned on the internal air and Jet Fumes 'Fuel Gases' came into the airplane. So strong; that the Flight Attendant Number 4 went up to the cockpit and told him to turn off the air. Passengers then deplaned and Maintenance arrived. They pulled out F/C galley carts and walked throughout the plane. They said; that they didn't smell anything. But; we 'the crew' could still get whiffs of the smell. The FAA Inspector seated in XC (he boarded before passengers); also walked through and could smell it. The Maintenance (Representative) proceeded to write it 'all clear' in the log book and we 'the flight attendants' said wait! We are calling Management and the Union. We had a FSM and The Operational Manager come to the plane. Upon entering they smelled it immediately and asked us to step onto the jetbridge. Maintenance then proceeded to re-check the plane and the FAA Inspector followed behind. As we the crew were on the jetbridge; the maintenance crew closed the aircraft door and started the APU. That is when the smell got extremely worse and filled the cockpit and cabin. It was coming out of the individual air vents in the cabin. I believe that the haste to get this plane out on time; would have caused a major health event with the passengers and crew. If the flight attendants hadn't forced the issue it would have proceeded to fly to destination. Update is that the Union verified that it was an 'Oil Leak' on the APU. This is why we shouldn't take these situations lightly and always get a second opinion! Myself 'Flight Attendant Number 2;' the Flight Attendant Number 3 and Flight Attendant Number 1 went hospital to get checked out. All (4) crewmembers had headaches and slight nausea. The Flight Attendant Number 4 had a headache and proceeded to work the new aircraft to destination. The aircraft was taken out of service.A second opinion; as well as running various tests. Don't be in a hurry if there is a distinct odor in the plane. There were 6 Crewmembers and an FAA Inspector that smelled the odor and Maintenance didn't. They were too quick to write it off in the log book. We were flying over water the entire flight.




Synopsis: B737-800 flight attendant crew reported 'very bad odor' during preflight resulting in physiological issues. Aircraft was taken out of service only after flight attendant crew insisted on second maintenance inspection.