Date: 201304
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Aircraft component: Air Conditioning Distribution System
Component problem: Design; Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Physiological - Other; Fatigue
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Company Policy; Aircraft; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was working an A321 extra trip pairing. I joined the above crew and worked one flight then had a plane change; then we were scheduled to work one more return flight. I introduced myself to the crew and received a thorough briefing once joining the crew by the 'A' Flight Attendant. The four day trip was normal and uneventful until this last flight. Our flight that night was booked light so we boarded; taxied out and took off right on schedule. I initially noticed nothing unusual about the aircraft at all. After takeoff I felt lightheaded a dizzy but did not say anything to the rest of the crew thinking it was just a steep takeoff. As myself and the B; C Flight Attendants were setting up for our service the A Flight Attendant called on the interphone asking if we were dizzy or lightheaded. All three of us agreed we were feeling those symptoms; at that point I noticed a 'dirty sock' smell in the cabin. The C Flight Attendant said we were being gassed that we should go on oxygen; I was surprised when they removed two oxygen bottles from there compartments and started self administering oxygen. I was confused about what was going on and thought about my former 23 years flying experience with this carrier and my recent re-hire training. I had never heard about this 'gassing'; with the strange smell in the cabin. I felt sure it was a different kind of 'gas' in the cabin and thought the crew was playing a new hire prank on me. Even though I smelled the cabin odor and felt dizzy I still was not sure what was happening in the aircraft. Still thinking the crew was playing a practical joke on me I decided to walk to the front of the plane to speak to the A Flight Attendant to see what was going on. Feeling almost drunk due to my dizzy and lightheadedness I staggered to the First Class Cabin where the A Flight Attendant was on the interphone with the cockpit. Upon my arrival the A Flight Attendant said the Captain requested to see him in the cockpit and would I stay in the First Class Galley and secure a cart between the First Class Cabin and Galley; I did just that. The A Flight Attendant was in the cockpit approximately fifteen minutes. As he was in the cockpit I started noticing I was developing a headache at the base of my head and neck. The longer I stood in First Class the headache became increasingly intense traveling from the back of my head up my scalp stopping at my temples. At this point my headache was extremely intense; my head was throbbing so hard I could literally feel my pulse in my temples I also noticed my eyes; nose and throat were all burning. Once the A Flight Attendant came out of the cockpit he asked me to follow him to the rear of the aircraft to brief the entire crew; I noticed while walking to the back of the aircraft I had to hold onto seat backs to maintain my balance. At the back of the aircraft the A Flight Attendant told me take a passanger seat and to go on oxygen immediately at this point we had been inflight for approximately 45 minutes. The A Flight Attendant said the Captain had called our medical consultation service and they suggested we continue on to our destination but that the Captain decided to turn the aircraft around and return to the departure airport to have the crew and aircraft checked out. The A Flight Attendant informed us paramedics would be meeting the crew and aircraft for evaluation. Even though I knew that something was not right with the aircraft the news that the Captain had called for medical advice and was turning the aircraft around was my first real clue something serious was wrong. Myself and the B; C flight attendants all stayed seated in the last two rows of the aircraft with oxygen on (I do not recall if the A Flight Attendant did or not) until we get clearance for landing. Myself and the C Flight Attendant removed our oxygen masks long enough to take our jump seats for landing; I personally did not want to upset the passengers being on oxygen for landing. Upon arrival atthe gate I saw the fire trucks and ambulances there to meet us. Other than the fact I did not feel well at all I still was not sure what was happening or what 'gassing' was. At arrival at the gate a fireman boarded the aircraft with an air rating indicator and walked the back of the aircraft. The passengers deplaned; the crew was met in the loading bridge by paramedics and escorted into the terminal where they questioned us; examined us and took our vital signs. Other then a headache; burning throat; eyes and nose the most noticeable sign on me was an elevated blood pressure 162/104. The Paramedic asked if I thought I needed to be transported to the hospital for further treatment; I replied no and again told him I did not think my symptoms required a trip to the hospital. After being released by the paramedics and Crew Scheduling I walked slowly with the C Flight Attendant to the employee bus still feeling dizzy and lightheaded. On the shuttle bus to the employee parking lot I took a seat. This made the dizzy feeling diminish; but upon standing the dizzy feeling returned. I slowly walked to my car again feeling dizzy on my walk. Once inside my vehicle I sat in the driver's seat with my windows down breathing in the fresh evening air. Again this helped my dizzy feeling so I proceeded on my thirty minute drive home cautiously; knowing my motor skills and response time were slowed. Half way home I was once again over come with the dizzy lightheaded feeling to the point I no longer felt safe to drive. I pulled my car off on the shoulder of the interstate and splashed cold water on my face. After parking on the shoulder of the interstate for approximately fifteen minutes I felt safe enough to continue my drive home and made it safely. After arriving home; my headache still intense I immediately took six aspirin; showered and went to bed hoping for relief after several hours of sleep. I woke early the next morning as I usually do still with an excruciating headache so I took six more aspirin and went back to bed. I woke up again an hour later still with a headache. I took is easy that day not driving or venturing far away from home not knowing if the dizzy; lightheaded feeling would return. As the day progressed; eight hours after waking up; I noticed I was starting to feel better. Even my headache was going away. By [late evening the next night] I was feeling fairly normal and back to my usual self. I sincerely think the gassing topic should be addressed in new hire and recurrent training. I can't help but think what would have happened if I had been with three other new hire reserves who; like me; had never heard about 'gassing'. I also wonder what would have happened if the Captain followed the medical service instructions and kept going to our destination. Even though we had a lightly booked flight; what would we have done if all our passengers needed oxygen and the reserve crew was so incapacitated by the gassing and were unable to respond. This situation could have been infinitely worse had I not been with a quick reacting; professional crew.




Synopsis: An A321 Captain returned to the departure airport after the entire flight attendant crew reported a lightheaded; drunken feeling and with a headache while experiencing the dirty socks odor. Paramedics assessed the Flight Attendant reporter with high blood pressure. The reporter felt ill the entire next day.