Narrative:

During climbout we got an initial report from the flight attendants in the aft galley of a strange smell/odor like electric or oil. We advised the flight attendants to turn off all ovens as a precaution; and then asked if the smell/odor dissipated after a while. After a short while; one flight attendant reported being light headed and dizzy; then later was nauseated. Eventually this flight attendant had to be seated and was tended to by an on board physician with oxygen. A little while later a second flight attendant was reported as having the same symptoms and was treated similarly. At that point we turned off power to the aft galley using our switch on the overhead panel. We also advised ATC of a possible medical emergency involving flight attendants on board. After both flight attendants received oxygen; they were reported to be improving physically for a short time. Some time later a third flight attendant was reported as having similar symptoms and one of the other flight attendants had passed out. We decided at that point to divert for medical assistance. We advised ATC of our intentions and we were cleared direct to the divert airport. On short final to land 2 of the flight attendants were reported to have passed out. We proceeded to our gate after landing and paramedics met the aircraft to remove all of our flight attendants and transport them to the hospital for treatment. Cause is unknown at this time. Neither pilot was affected by the odor/smell from the flight deck. We could not smell it at that part of the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Three B737-800 flight attendants became ill in flight from what was described by them as an oily smell; so the flight diverted to an enroute airport where medical examinations was administered.

Narrative: During climbout we got an initial report from the flight attendants in the aft galley of a strange smell/odor like electric or oil. We advised the flight attendants to turn off all ovens as a precaution; and then asked if the smell/odor dissipated after a while. After a short while; one Flight Attendant reported being light headed and dizzy; then later was nauseated. Eventually this Flight Attendant had to be seated and was tended to by an on board physician with oxygen. A little while later a second Flight Attendant was reported as having the same symptoms and was treated similarly. At that point we turned off power to the aft galley using our switch on the overhead panel. We also advised ATC of a possible medical emergency involving flight attendants on board. After both flight attendants received oxygen; they were reported to be improving physically for a short time. Some time later a third Flight Attendant was reported as having similar symptoms and one of the other flight attendants had passed out. We decided at that point to divert for medical assistance. We advised ATC of our intentions and we were cleared direct to the divert airport. On short final to land 2 of the flight attendants were reported to have passed out. We proceeded to our gate after landing and paramedics met the aircraft to remove all of our flight attendants and transport them to the hospital for treatment. Cause is unknown at this time. Neither pilot was affected by the odor/smell from the flight deck. We could not smell it at that part of the aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.