Date: 201912
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: B737-800
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Landing; Takeoff / Launch
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Anomaly: 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
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Flight Attendant 4 and I detected a weird; faint smell during takeoff. We covered our nose and mouth with our scarves until the smell dissipated. We proceeded with our Flight Attendant duties and did the inflight service until the Captain delivered the 'Prepare for Landing' PA. While strapped on our jump seats; the weird smell came back; much stronger than before. I began experiencing lightheadedness and my heart started to race. Flight Attendant 4 removed her scarf from her neck and tied it like a bandanna over her nose and mouth. I was trying to do the same with my scarf when Flight Attendant 3 called from the front and asked if we smelled anything. I told her there's a nasty rotting and burning smell and she said she's calling the Captain because it might be toxic fumes.The Captain made an all-call minutes later; asking if we're feeling okay and if we needed medical attention. Flight Attendant 1 said he could hear passengers coughing and I told the Captain I was experiencing rapid heartbeats. After landing; Flight Attendant 4 opened the aft entry door so we could breathe and to get rid of the smell. After all the passengers deplaned; we were met by paramedics and by personnel from Flight Service on the jet bridge. At that point; it became hard for me to breathe normally so I went with the paramedics back to the terminal to be checked. They told me my blood pressure was elevated but it was slowly going down and since the entire crew was going to the clinic to be looked at; they won't recommend that I go to an emergency room. We were led to a private room by Flight Service personnel after we were taken off our flight to ZZZ. We told her we wanted to be checked for carbon monoxide poisoning. She made a call to a clinic asking if they do a blood test there and then she sent us to the clinic outside the airport; however; when we got there; we found out that that clinic doesn't do blood test and they never received a call from anyone asking whether they do a blood test. After a routine exam; we went to a hotel and deadheaded the next day back to base.We flight attendants and flight deck crew should have been checked for carbon monoxide poisoning after exposure to toxic fumes within four hours of the event. The fact that we were sent to a clinic that doesn't do a blood test despite our wishes was very concerning.




Synopsis: B737-800 Flight Attendant crew reported burning odor during takeoff which dissipated and returned during descent. Entire cabin crew experienced physiological issues and were treated at airport clinic on arrival.