Date: 201405
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A320
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Confusion; Workload; Physiological - Other; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant In Charge
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Passenger
When detected: Taxi
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Gate; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Before we pushed back from the gate; a passenger exited from the lavatory and asked what the burning smell was. I did not smell anything at that time; then I began to smell the burning smell. Burning Electrical smell. B-Flight Attendant called flight deck (FD); the First Officer came to the back; he said like stale cigar smoke. I opened up both lavatories; neither were the source. I said I smelled the odor between Rows 23-25. The First Officer returned to FD; door was shut. I armed my doors; and walked to the front. Demo was completed; but we had to perform the demo again due to new passengers boarded. C-Flight Attendant commented she had a headache; I said I did; too. I returned to the back and checked my galley. We pushed back. I looked up and saw haze; and it smelled like burning electrical smell; also like 'stale; Parmesan cheese'. I got out of my jumpseat; tried to call the forward galley. Grabbed my Halon; but since I didn't feel heat; I didn't grab a PBE. I tried to call the front and the FD; no one would answer. I could barely breathe. I finally got hold of the A Flight Attendant and let him know I was going to pass out if I could not get O2. He told me to go ahead; disarm your door and open the door to get ventilation. Passengers started to stand up; asking if there was a fire. C Flight Attendant started to come toward me; telling me we're returning to the gate. I felt like I was choking; I could not breathe. Passengers were not panicking; they responded to our directions to remain seated. I knew I could not leave my doors due to them being open.We were checked at the gate by EMT's. Blood pressure was 190/92 at gate. My CO2 level was 5.8; C Flight Attendant was 1.7. My doctor told me that if I had not opened the doors to get O2 it could've been extremely serious.


Second narrative: While taxiing off toward takeoff roll. Safety demo had been completed. Cabin had been secured. We were seated in our respective jumpseats; in our harnesses. C Flight Attendant noticed an odor and alerted me to it. At first I did not smell anything. It was very faint. She again smelled it seconds later. Making reference to having observed a passenger seated in first class having made facial expressions to what seemed to be an odd odor. Again; I took a deep breadth to see if I smelled anything. I smelled nothing. Then; all of a sudden I caught a trace of it. I looked at the C Flight Attendant and agreed with her about the odd odor. It smelled to me as if something electrical; a trace of something burned metallic in nature. It was not the smell of an oven; coffee maker; paper; or smoking materials. I called the flight deck immediately to inform them of the situation. We were assessing conditions within our area trying to locate the source of the odor. I stood on the interphone describing the conditions as accurately as possible. C Flight Attendant then noted that in the aft portion of the cabin; there was a build up of smoke and it appeared to be a white haze forming impeding the clear vision. We proceeded to shut off all power in our galley area. We were unable to localize a source in our section of the cabin. Obtained a PBE and Halon Extinguisher. The pilots indicated we were returning to the gate. C Flight Attendant proceeded to aft section to inform the B Flight Attendant who was in her jumpseat and had already started to react by obtaining an extinguisher. No source was established in the aft section either. As we returned to the gate; the odor and haze became increasingly stronger. PA's were delivered informing passengers to remain calm and stay low. C Flight Attendant returned to forward section of cabin. Aircraft came to a complete stop. Passengers immediately got up. We began shouting commands to stay seated. B Flight Attendant was by this time on interphone requesting to open doors to obtain airflow. She indicated that she had difficulty breathing and seeing clearly. I instructed her to stand by; I was going to contact the pilots. I attempted to call the flight deck; there was no immediate answer. I looked down the aisle. Cabin conditions did appear to be getting worse with the concentration of odor and haze. B Flight Attendant again called. Flight deck door opened. C Flight Attendant communicated directly with pilots and obtained permission to open doors after describing the existing conditions in the cabin. I then informed B Flight Attendant we would be opening the doors following normal door operations for arrival. In other words; I made the PA; 'Flight attendants Verify & Disarm Doors - Stand by for All Call.' The B Flight Attendant and I performed Team Monitor and Challenge in the forward section at doors 1L & 1R. We did attempt to look out the 1L porthole but could not clearly see a jet bridge. C Flight Attendant performed her monitor and challenge procedures and then answered that doors were indeed disarmed. I instructed here that it was OK to open in order to gain better airflow and aid her vision and breathing; safety barrier straps were put in place. As soon as we completed opening the doors; the pilots made a PA indicating that we had stopped short of the bridge and would be towed in. All power had been shut off. By this time all doors were opened with safety straps in place. This immediately cleared the odor and haze conditions in the cabin. During all this; we also kept monitoring cabin conditions as well as insuring passengers remained seated and calm; insuring to avoid in creating a panic situation and unwarranted evacuations. A PA was delivered to have passengers instructing them that we would be using the jet bridge to deplane through the forward 1L door. Once all passengers had exited the aircraft; the B Flight Attendant requested medical attention since she had been exposed the most toinhaling the fumes/smoke. She complained of having a headache; feeling light headed and having difficulties breathing. C FA had also indicated that she experienced having a slight headache. Firefighters were present on the scene. Paramedics also arrived and attended to us in the gate/concourse area.It is hard to say what would helped prevent what appeared to be something burning causing the odor and haze. We do; however; feel that the interphone system on the aircraft did hamper effective communication between all parties involved. As I attempted to deliver as much information as possible to the flight deck; the C Flight Attendant also attempted to do the same. I then attempted to call C Flight Attendant but she was in communication with the flight deck; making it impossible to quickly communicate and gather data that would help us in coordinating more effectively. I do; however; applaud the professional calm response from all those involved. Given the facts on hand; we acted in order to address the priorities of easing the breathing and vision in order to establish better conditions in the cabin.


Synopsis: During taxi for takeoff; the forward and aft flight attendants detected a strong burning electrical odor with a light white cabin haze so as the aircraft returned to the gate. The Aft Flight Attendant opened the door to prevent herself from passing out. Headaches; light headedness and breathing difficulties were reported with elevated blood pressure and two flight attendants CO level readings of 5.8 and 1.7.