Date: 202003
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Aircraft: A319
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant In Charge; Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Second reporter function: Other / Unknown
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew; Person Passenger
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: After takeoff; as Flight Attendant #1; I got a call from cockpit around or at 10;000 ft. about fumes/odor. He made an all call. The 2 and 4 [flight attendants] smelled something and stated they felt dizzy. They stated they all had headaches; which I said I also had gotten since we took off. I recognized the scent as something from the chemicals that maintenances uses on the aircraft on the ground; like deicing in the engines or a chemical burning off. The captain stated they were also smelling it in the cockpit. The Captain stated we'd be going back to ZZZ at that point. No passengers complained until arriving in ZZZ (they were both crew members dead heading; which noticed and recognized the original scent). Upon final descent and after preparation for landing; while strapped in my jumpseat; my throat started to feel like it was getting very irritated and scratchy. I also started to feel very light headed and dizzy; almost lethargic. My headache remained and increased in intensity. We landed and de-planed. Management met the flight; but we continued to be on the aircraft. As I did my final walk through; I notice the odor/fumes were extremely strong between the 3 LR and 4 LR doors. They burned my throat and caused me to feel like I wanted to cough. Catering came to 4L and opened the door; which dissipated the odor/fumes in the cabin. The crew de-plane the aircraft. We were escorted to Operations where we calls the on call nurse; Who referred us to an emergency room. Myself and the three other flight attendants receive treatment in the emergency room and were released. Suggestions: There should be a set protocol for an immediate lab test for specific blood gasses; levels of certain chemicals and toxins. We were stalled and left in the fumes with deplaning and calling unnecessary nurses when we were seeking treatment no matter what. The Airbus needs an investigation on these fume/odor events. This was my first and it was extremely frightening. I felt like I was almost having decompression symptoms with the light headedness.


Second narrative: Captain called after takeoff; before the 10;000 ft. sterile chime and asked if I smelled fumes or odor in the cabin. I said yes. I recognized the smell as deicing or fuel. It was something I'd smelled before either burning off in the engines on the ground; but never in flight. He called back and said we were returning to ZZZ. We were in flight for less than an hour. No passengers complained or let us know if symptoms at the time. As we prepared for landing; and strapped into our jump seats; something in the air whether it be a fume or odor; I couldn't tell; started to irritate my throat; cause the headache that has started at pushback to increase in intensity and I felt almost euphoric or like I was light headed. The symptoms continued as we deplaned. On final walk-through of the cabin; I noticed there was an odor/fumes in the rear of the cabin between the third and fourth cabin doors. It burned my throat and mouth causing me to feel like I want to cough and upon Catering opening the 4L door; The odor/fume dissipated. The crew of four flight attendants reported the incident to local management and or taken to the emergency room to be tested for carbon monoxide poisoning.


Synopsis: A321 Flight Attendant reported a cabin fumes event during initial climb resulting in health issues.