An MD80 cabin attendant reports that 3-5 mins after takeoff smoke appeared in the cabin. Smoke repor...

Attributes
ACN	541691
Time
Date	200203
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : zzz.tower tower : anc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Experience	flight attendant time airline total : 28 flight attendant time total : 28 flight attendant time type : 100
ASRS Report	541691
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : person 1
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Smoke came billowing toward the aft of aircraft from what appeared to be beginning of main cabin. I immediately called cockpit and informed them of the situation. I obtained my personal breathing equipment and lowered myself to floor (smoke hurt eyes and throat). I made a PA to passenger calming their fears and reinforcing importance of seatbelts being fastened. Captain turned plane back to dfw and informed the flight attendants to prepare for landing. Smoke started to disappear from cabin. Passenger were prepared for landing. All went well -- no need to evacuate/evacuation upon return. Fire marshalls came on plane after passenger deplaned. To my knowledge, the incident occurred due to a problem with the APU system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CABIN ATTENDANT RPTS THAT 3-5 MINS AFTER TKOF SMOKE APPEARED IN THE CABIN. SMOKE RPTED, CAUSED BY APU.

Narrative: SMOKE CAME BILLOWING TOWARD THE AFT OF ACFT FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE BEGINNING OF MAIN CABIN. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED COCKPIT AND INFORMED THEM OF THE SIT. I OBTAINED MY PERSONAL BREATHING EQUIP AND LOWERED MYSELF TO FLOOR (SMOKE HURT EYES AND THROAT). I MADE A PA TO PAX CALMING THEIR FEARS AND REINFORCING IMPORTANCE OF SEATBELTS BEING FASTENED. CAPT TURNED PLANE BACK TO DFW AND INFORMED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO PREPARE FOR LNDG. SMOKE STARTED TO DISAPPEAR FROM CABIN. PAX WERE PREPARED FOR LNDG. ALL WENT WELL -- NO NEED TO EVAC UPON RETURN. FIRE MARSHALLS CAME ON PLANE AFTER PAX DEPLANED. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO A PROB WITH THE APU SYS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

An MD80 cabin attendant reports that 3-5 mins after takeoff smoke appeared in the cabin. Smoke reported, caused by APU.