Narrative:

The 'Z' [flight attendant (flight attendant)] reported to me that she could smell something burning in the cabin around rows 8;9;10. I then went out and smelt a burning plastic smell at row 17. I walked through the cabin to the front of the aircraft and told the 'X' [flight attendant] that we could smell something burning. The 'X' then walked through and smelt the burning smell as well. We then called the captain; and they also could smell it. We also had a commuting pilot and asked her what she thought it may be. The captain said that it may be chemicals from the ventilation system. Apparently; it had maintenance done the day before. Our eyes; nose; and throat were burning; and we began having headaches. We continued to our destination. After several hours on the ground in the airport; we were told that the plane was out of service but not what was wrong with it. Finally; we got another plane and worked to our next destination. All of us were still sick from the burning chemical smell. We had ourselves pulled and emt's and fire personnel meet our plane. We then were sent to the hospital to be treated. The captain should have diverted the plane to a closer destination or even went back to the departure airport. We did not learn until today what exactly we were breathing for 2 1/2 hours. Although apparently the captain told the new crew that took over for us that it was hydraulic fluid that was leaking and burning through the ventilation system.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 flight attendants reported a burning plastic; chemical odor in the cabin causing headaches; burning eyes and throat. After arrival the aircraft was removed from service; but the crew continued; then reported ill at the next destination and sought medical attention. Hydraulic fluid was reported in the air conditioning system.

Narrative: The 'Z' [Flight Attendant (FA)] reported to me that she could smell something burning in the cabin around Rows 8;9;10. I then went out and smelt a burning plastic smell at Row 17. I walked through the cabin to the front of the aircraft and told the 'X' [FA] that we could smell something burning. The 'X' then walked through and smelt the burning smell as well. We then called the Captain; and they also could smell it. We also had a commuting pilot and asked her what she thought it may be. The Captain said that it may be chemicals from the ventilation system. Apparently; it had maintenance done the day before. Our eyes; nose; and throat were burning; and we began having headaches. We continued to our destination. After several hours on the ground in the airport; we were told that the plane was out of service but not what was wrong with it. Finally; we got another plane and worked to our next destination. All of us were still sick from the burning chemical smell. We had ourselves pulled and EMT's and fire personnel meet our plane. We then were sent to the hospital to be treated. The Captain should have diverted the plane to a closer destination or even went back to the departure airport. We did not learn until today what exactly we were breathing for 2 1/2 hours. Although apparently the Captain told the new crew that took over for us that it was hydraulic fluid that was leaking and burning through the ventilation system.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.