Date: 202006
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: A321
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Passenger
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: There was a fume event on the aircraft during the approach to ZZZ and the flight crew was not made aware of the event until after arriving at the gate.  FA1 (Flight Attendant 1) smelled a strong musty odor in the forward galley when the gear was extended on the approach.  FA4 and several passengers in the mid cabin smelled a strong rubbery odor.  FA4 said that she first smelled it before the gear was extended.  The odor dissipated after approximately 5 mins and no one required medical attention after landing.  During the event; the FAs discussed informing the flight crew with some deadheading pilots and they decided to wait to inform us until after landing since we were on the approach.  I was the FO (First Officer) on the flight and I was first informed when around half of the passengers had already deplaned.  The CA (Captain) had already left to catch his flight home.  I gathered information from the FAs and two of the DH (deadheading) pilots.  I called Maintenance on the radio and wrote up the issue in the AML. After I had left the aircraft; I submitted a Smoke; Fume; & Odor Form and called Maintenance Control to verify that they received the form.Crew communications -- The FAs made the right decision to delay informing the flight crew about the fume event since we were on the approach; the fumes had dissipated with no corrective action; and none of the passengers or crew required medical attention.  However; it would have been better if the flight crew had been informed of the event immediately after arriving at the gate.Maybe there could be a discussion during FA recurrent training about appropriate times to communicate events that happen during sterile flight deck periods.


Second narrative: We parked at gate; completed the shutdown checklist. I left for a commuter flight. My FO texted me about 20 minutes later that the FAs had reported a possible smoke/fume event just prior to and during gear extension. They did not inform me or the FO until after I had left the aircraft. No injuries reported. My FO proceeded to call Maintenance and fill out smoke fume event form. I should have taken a moment prior to leaving aircraft to talk with the #1 FA to make sure there were no write ups prior to deplaning. I am fortunate that there were no reported injuries and every one was ok.Though we finished our required tasks it is always prudent to make sure everything is cleared before leaving the aircraft.


Synopsis: A321 First Officer reported being notified by a Flight Attendant during passenger deplaning of a strong rubbery odor" which was noticed during final approach. First Officer notified Maintenance; completed necessary documentation; and relayed information to the Captain."