Lufthansa B744 at Denver and Frankfurt on Oct 18th 2017 and Oct 19th 2017, fumes on board, passengers and cabin crew unwell

Last Update: December 5, 2017 / 15:05:11 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Oct 18, 2017

Classification
Accident

Cause
Fumes on board

Airline
Lufthansa

Flight number
LH-447

Departure
Denver, United States

Destination
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Aircraft Registration
D-ABVW

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400, registration D-ABVW performing flight LH-447 (dep. Oct 18th, arr Oct 19th) from Denver,CO (USA) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was preparing for departure from Denver. While the engines were started an odour of dirty old socks developed on board, the departure preparations were continued and the aircraft departed. The odour dissipated during climb out of Denver. The aircraft continued the flight to Frankfurt. During the descent into Frankfurt, about 15-30 minutes prior to landing, the odour occurred again. A number of passengers felt unwell, a number of passengers even vomitted. A number of cabin crew also felt unwell with headaches, nausea and eye irritations. The aircraft landed in Frankfurt about 9 hours after departure. All cabin crew went to see a doctor, one flight attendant needed to be taken to a hospital.

According to information The Aviation Herald received one flight attendant is still on sick leave following the flight.

The same aircraft had a very similiar occurrence just two days later again flight LH-447, see Accident: Lufthansa B744 at Denver and Frankfurt on Oct 20th 2017 and Oct 21st 2017, fumes on board, passengers and cabin crew unwell.

Germany's BFU told The Aviation Herald, that they have been informed about the occurrence of Oct 19th 2017 (departure Oct 18th 2017), however, not about the occurrence of Oct 21st 2017 (departure Oct 20th 2017). The BFU is currently collecting further information to rate the occurrence.

On Dec 5th 2017 the BFU reported that following collection of information the occurrence was not rated an accident or serious incident, no investigation has been opened.

The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for 26 hours, then departed to Denver as flight LH-446.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Oct 18, 2017

Classification
Accident

Cause
Fumes on board

Airline
Lufthansa

Flight number
LH-447

Departure
Denver, United States

Destination
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Aircraft Registration
D-ABVW

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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