Date: 201904
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Aircraft: B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Other Passenger Boarding
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Procedure; MEL
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Fuel leak from surge tank during fueling caused an extensive delay. There was a 2;000 pound fuel imbalance due to Left wing Volumetric Shut Off and Surge Tank problem that prevented automatic shutdown of fueling. A deferral and MEL caused fuel jettison deactivation. Running the APU during this time helped bring the fuel close to balanced in the main tanks.Once MEL was applied; crew approached [Out of Duty Time]. An acrid smell; somewhat electrical in nature; was detected on flight deck and in forward galley. Customer Service; ZZZZ [Maintenance] and numerous crew noticed this smell.We all wanted to go and we moved out to the jetbridge and back to the cabin sniffing and questioning the location of worst fumes. It was presumed to be more from the outside than inside the aircraft by most parties and the crew opted to close up and go. An extension of [Out of Duty Time] was initiated about 25 minutes remaining for duty limit and cargo doors were still open.Call from Ground to contact clearance came. As we were set to contact Ground Control for push; a call from aft galley came and we needed time to investigate a recurrence of the acrid smell.Flight deck notified Operations that we were trying to get the [Out of Duty Time] extended. This was met with a statement from Ops; that 'we wouldn't have needed an extension if we called when aircraft was closed up.' That was out of line as we were dealing with a recurring fume issue. Unbeknownst to Operations; a call came in with a smell in the cabin again. All the pilots were concerned for the safety of the flight and we were addressing the concerns of the crew and the passengers.Flight deck and forward galley quickly noticed acrid smell with no sign of smoke. On the flight deck; we noticed symptoms of irritated eyes; nose and throat; followed by headache and some nausea. Our call to Operations to have jetbridge returned immediately and deplane the aircraft was initiated.After deplaning; the passengers and crew assembled in the terminal. Some of the crew; myself included; felt ill and initiated Medlink contact. We become unfit to operate at this point and thus grounded; per the Medlink nurse; until we get re-evaluated by medical personnel.While enroute to the hotel; the pilots were notified there was an appointment 20 minutes from the hotel where we could be cleared and made fit to fly the next day.My symptoms had mostly abated; yet I was not interested in making my day any longer; instead I chose rest and hydration per the Medlink nurse staff. Medlink said I could travel and get evaluated at home domicile if necessary. That was up to [Company]; [and] that is when we were removed from operating the flight [and] instead we deadheaded.




Synopsis: B767 Captain reported acrid smell on aircraft resulting in flight attendants as well as some passengers experiencing health issues.