American A321 at Charlotte on Aug 13th 2018, chlorine odour at gate

Last Update: October 26, 2018 / 14:50:47 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Aug 13, 2018

Classification
Accident

Airline
American Airlines

Flight number
AA-712

Departure
Charlotte, United States

Destination
Providence, United States

Aircraft Registration
N554UW

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N554UW performing flight AA-712 from Charlotte,NC to Providence,RI (USA), was preparing for departure. As the APU was not serviceable and the aircraft was too hot a portable air unit was connected to the aircraft to cool the cabin down. However, as soon as the unit started an odour of chlorine began to develop on board. Assuming that this was a temporary problem only, boarding commenced, but the odour worsened. The portable air unit was disconnected, the odour however did not dissipate, the flight attendants began to feel sick and stepped out of the aircraft into the jet way while the captain attempted to calm down the passengers with announcements. A supervisor and mechanics were called to the aircraft who confirmed the chlorine odour and initiated the passengers to disembark the aircraft again. In the meantime the health condition of the flight attendants deteriorated further with headaches, dizziness, bloodshot eyes, hurting throats, tingling arms and legs. One flight attendant collapsed onto the floor and was unconscious. The flight attendants were taken to a hospital for treatment and were released about 4 hours later.

Several sources reported the captain of the flight made announcements against the flight attendants, for example the aircraft was fine and it was just the flight attendants who didn't want to work, which infuriated the passengers and caused them to insult the flight attendants when the passengers disembarked.

The flight was eventually cancelled.

The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 10 hours after the occurrence.

The Aviation Herald learned that another captain had refused to accept the aircraft for another (longer) flight. The aircraft had already been fueled for that flight. The captain of the occurrence flight accepted the aircraft, the aircraft needed to be partially de-fueled, which was in progress and experienced trouble at about the same time when the odour began. According reports were filed with the authorities, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants is consulting with Allied Pilots Association to discuss the actions by the captain.

On Oct 26th 2018 the FAA reported: "The investigation into this incident is ongoing."
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Aug 13, 2018

Classification
Accident

Airline
American Airlines

Flight number
AA-712

Departure
Charlotte, United States

Destination
Providence, United States

Aircraft Registration
N554UW

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

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