Date: 201712
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Night
Aircraft: A320
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Human factors: Fatigue; Physiological - Other
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: General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: I was on the A320 aircraft. On our final descent (right when we got the double chime from the flight deck); we got the awful dirty sock smell; along with a light fog in the cabin. Our #1 Flight Attendant (FA) came to the aft of the aircraft to ask us if we could identify where the vomit smell was coming from. I immediately felt light headed; my throat; eyes; and sinuses were burning. I also had an immediate headache. Simultaneously; we said to each other 'it's the dirty sock smell'. The lights were on bright; because we were preparing to do our final compliance check. The customers were plugging their noses and asking each other what the horrible smell was. I immediately contacted the Captain; and told him that we had the dirty sock smell. He said ok; and hung up. I was so light headed; dizzy; and had burning in my eyes; throat; and nose; that I was unable to complete my compliance check. It was all I could do in order to get to my jump seat for landing.We had a fellow Crewmember non-reving to go home. He stopped me on my way to the front to tell me he smelled the dirty sock smell. He wanted to make sure we knew; as well as if we informed the flight deck. One of the other FA's I was flying with; had the same symptoms. I also noticed a [passenger]; vomiting after the event. I was making my way from the aft of the aircraft to my jumpseat in the front of the aircraft.We landed. My Captain said that they did not smell it in the flight deck. He did tell me that the plane we were on had already been written up for this issue. It was unclear to me if the plane had been fixed; and this happened again; or if it was kept in service after it was recorded in the log book. The pilot was angry about it though. He said 'this is a duplicate write up in the log book'. I have inquired many times with [the company] to find out if the aircraft was fixed; but no one will answer me. They have only told me that Aircraft X has been fixed after our fume event.We were all tired; due to getting in so late; and we were ending our trip. Everyone just wanted to go home and sleep. I filled out a safety report the next day; stating that we had a fume event. In the report; I also noted my symptoms. I was never contacted by anyone about the incident; and no one at [the company] met the plane to get more information. The protocol for fume events was not followed.It's now been over 2 months; and I'm STILL sick! I did contact my Team Lead about this after I got extremely sick during a [following flight]. We were halfway to our destination; and I started throwing up and had severe diarrhea. I couldn't continue to do any of my job duties. I had to call out sick; mid pairing. My company put me in a hotel until I was well enough to fly back to my base. I was at the hotel for over 24 hours. I suffered vomiting; diarrhea; severe headache; all of my joints hurt; as well as my neck and backbone. I called to report that I was involved in a fume event. They told me to definitely go to a Doctor. When I get back to base. I was miserable. I was barely able to gather the energy to get to the airport to fly back.The following day; I went to the Emergency Room. They took basic blood tests; urine test; and did a flu swab. All were normal; so I was diagnosed with a 'virus'. I have been so ill since this happened. The other FA that I was flying with that night also went to the ER [as] well after this happened. I didn't know that until I reached out to her to see how she was feeling. She was diagnosed with 'headache and abdominal pain'. She is also going back to her regular Doctor.




Synopsis: A320 Flight Attendant reported that due to a 'dirty sock smell' on the flight; many people became very ill.