The outside air supplied to the cabin and flight deck on commercial aircraft may sometimes be contaminated with engine oil or hydraulic fluid. If you experience this, it’s important to react quickly.
By General Secretary of FPU Romania and former cabin crew, Mircea Constantin
During flight at 10k meters above the ground, lack of oxygen and -40C means that the freezing air going into the engine must be heated up before being compressed and supplied into the cabin and flight deck.
Most often there are no problems, but sometimes faulty seals or other mechanical issues contaminate the air that runs unfiltered through the engine and into the cabin and cockpit. These fumes are, however rare they are, harmful to the human body.
That’s why it’s important to react quickly, if you suspect that these toxic fumes have entered the aircraft.
How do you detect fumes?
Often, oil fumes do not smell like oil. Instead, they are typically described as smelling like dirty socks/smelly feet, foul, or musty. Hydraulic fluid often has a distinctive and recognizable odour that is often described as acrid.
What can you do as a crew member?
- Be aware
Carbon Monoxide (CO) exposure may cause confusion and/or issues with your judgment. Exercise caution when deciding as to whether or not you are fit to continue duty.
- Assess yourself and your surroundings
Assess yourself, your fellow crew members and passengers to determine if anyone requires medical attention, according to your company’s procedures.
- Debriefing is key
Debrief is required with the entire crew and maintenance once all passengers have deplaned.
- Seek medical attention
If symptoms are serious, seek urgent medical attention.
- Contact your Union Representative
If you experience fumes, inform your union representative.
Further reading on toxic fumes
We want to let all crew members know that if you experience any work-related incidents, you can reach out to us. Our teams in Romania and Denmark are here to support you.
Florentina Tudor, a purser at Wizzair in Romania, experienced fumes, and FPU Romania took the case to court, winning and securing her compensation.
Find more in-depth information on fumes in this Wall Street Journal article
Read also: Romania voted in favor of a European project to improve flight safety
