Lufthansa A321 at Barcelona on Jul 28th 2014, fumes in cockpit

Last Update: October 10, 2014 / 14:44:36 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 28, 2014

Classification
Incident

Airline
Lufthansa

Flight number
LH-1132

Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Destination
Barcelona, Spain

Aircraft Registration
D-AIRE

Aircraft Type
Airbus A321

ICAO Type Designator
A321

A Lufthansa Airbus A321-200, registration D-AIRE performing flight LH-1132 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Barcelona,SP (Spain), was descending towards Barcelona when a smell of old socks was detected in cabin and cockpit prompting the crew to don their oxygen masks at about FL180. Without declaring emergency or requesting priority in a seriously congested airspace around Barcelona, approach control issuing instructions almost without catching breath in between, the crew continued for a safe landing on Barcelona's runway 07L about 30 minutes later, still using oxygen masks until after landing. There were no injuries.

The return flight LH-1133 was postponed to the next day to facilitate examination and repairs over night, the return flight experienced another fumes event however.

The Spanish CIAIAC did not respond to inquiries by The Aviation Herald submitted since Jul 29th.

Germany's BFU reported they are aware of the two occurrences on LH-1132 of Jul 28th 2014 and LH-1133 departing Barcelona on Jul 29th 2014. The report concerning LH-1132 was forwarded to Spain's CIAIAC.

According to information The Aviation Herald received, the crew went to a hotel following the flight and performed the return flight the following day. The information further suggests that Germany's Pilot Association "Vereinigung Cockpit" may have a particular interest to identify the circumstances of the occurrences because of the captain of both occurrence flights.

On Oct 10th 2014 the German BFU reported in their (delayed) July Bulletin, that there was highly intense fumes in the cockpit and forward cabin during the approach to Barcelona affecting all crew members including the pilots. Both pilots donned their oxygen masks. The return flight was postponed to perform a "Pack Burn" over night. During the return flight the next day there was again highly noticeable fumes throughout the entire aircraft though weaker than the day before. Again all crew members showed symptoms like head ache, nausea and dizziness. The BFU reported, that the occurrences at Barcelona and on the return flight are both being investigated by the BFU rated a serious incident.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 28, 2014

Classification
Incident

Airline
Lufthansa

Flight number
LH-1132

Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Destination
Barcelona, Spain

Aircraft Registration
D-AIRE

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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