Narrative:

Upon entering aircraft; the entire cabin crew and flight deck crew smelled a mixture of pungent odors of fuel; fish; and kerosene/paint thinner. The crew assumed it was an outside odor that would dissipate since the rear door and forward doors were open. Within 10 minutes of the boarding process; many first class customers complained of either a headache or nausea symptoms from the odors. In addition; a few of the customers seated in the rear of the aircraft and all four cabin crew members also began feeling symptoms of headaches; nausea; and throat dryness. Once the captain was notified of all complaints; he immediately asked for the gate agents to deplane all onboard customers and crew members.paramedics examined one crew member and believed the crew had no significant illness emergency treatment. However; the cabin crew was taken to a facility for baseline blood and pulmonary testing. The cabin crew was later released approximately two hours later with no further treatments. Aircraft maintenance personnel tested the air packs of the airplane; determining that no outside fumes or odors were the result of the cause. It was determined that the odors and or fumes were coming from the air vents inside the aircraft. The plane was grounded and taken to the hangar for further review and the flight was canceled. No information of the customers who had complained of the same symptoms as the crew were publicized or addressed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A321 Flight Attendant reported that before; during; and after boarding; everyone on board the aircraft complained of a pungent fuel; fish; and kerosene/paint thinner odor. The crew and passengers were taken off the aircraft which was moved to the hangar. Medical tests found no apparent ill effects.

Narrative: Upon entering aircraft; the entire cabin crew and flight deck crew smelled a mixture of pungent odors of fuel; fish; and kerosene/paint thinner. The crew assumed it was an outside odor that would dissipate since the rear door and forward doors were open. Within 10 minutes of the boarding process; many first class customers complained of either a headache or nausea symptoms from the odors. In addition; a few of the customers seated in the rear of the aircraft and all four cabin crew members also began feeling symptoms of headaches; nausea; and throat dryness. Once the Captain was notified of all complaints; he immediately asked for the gate agents to deplane all onboard customers and crew members.Paramedics examined one crew member and believed the crew had no significant illness emergency treatment. However; the cabin crew was taken to a facility for baseline blood and pulmonary testing. The cabin crew was later released approximately two hours later with no further treatments. Aircraft maintenance personnel tested the air packs of the airplane; determining that no outside fumes or odors were the result of the cause. It was determined that the odors and or fumes were coming from the air vents inside the aircraft. The plane was grounded and taken to the hangar for further review and the flight was canceled. No information of the customers who had complained of the same symptoms as the crew were publicized or addressed.

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.