Date: 202109
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: A319
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: APU Pneumatic System & Ducting
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Time Pressure; Physiological - Other
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate; Pre-flight; Routine Inspection
Result: Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Fume event.  We loaded the passengers and had a maintenance issue with my oxygen mask that they had to run to the hanger so we were going to be delayed slightly.  The Captain started the APU.  The Gate Agent came down and asked if Maintenance was there for the smell.  We didn't realize that it smelled on the plane as we were already acclimated to it.  It took a few minutes of discussion and trips to the jetway and outside to clear our noses and realize there was a smell.  I went down to the tug to see if the smell was from outside but it wasn't.  I asked the flight attendants about it and they all thought it was from outside also until they walked to the back of the plane and it was getting worse.  They called us and we both decided to turn off the APU bleed and get the people off.  I talked to the agent and she said just send them up and I made an announcement that we had a maintenance issue and everyone needed to deplane.  The total time was about 25 minutes; 15 minutes to realize the extent of the problem which got progressively worse; and 10 minutes to deplane all but one wheelchair that took another 10 minutes to find a wheelchair.  Afterwards; Chief Pilot met us at the gate and we called air medical service. It was a waste; the person couldn't understand us; and told the Captain he was fine.  Name told her that's not what he said as he was sitting next to him.  We debated going to the hospital but went to the company medical center and home. We feel the APU was the factor that caused [the event]. Not having the fumes would be the best; but the agent being aware and speaking up reduced the severity of the event.  It allowed us to act faster than we probably would have not realizing the severity.


Second narrative: During preflight on Aircraft X in ZZZ; we started the APU and turned on the APU bleed air. Soon after that we began to notice a musty dirty air smell throughout the entire aircraft. Then all the flight attendants and flight crew began to experience symptoms from watering eyes; coughing; acrid taste in the mouth; headaches and burning in the throat. We then turned off the APU bleed air and deplaned the passengers. We contacted Maintenance; Operations and the Chief Pilots office. Entire crew was escorted to the ZZZ clinic to be evaluated for the odor event. Gate Agent noticed an odor that she mentioned to us immediately when onboard the aircraft.


Synopsis: Air Carrier flight crew reported a fumes event during passenger boarding. Passengers were deplaned; maintenance assigned and the flight crew received medical evaluation.