An MD80 was evacuated during boarding when the cabin filled with smoke.

Attributes
ACN	781236
Time
Date	200802
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sat.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bwi.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	flight attendant : currently qualified flight attendant aircraft qualified on : 5
Experience	flight attendant time airline total : 9 flight attendant time total : 9 flight attendant time type : 90
ASRS Report	781236
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	aircraft : evacuated flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was in the rear of aircraft during boarding. The possible jumpseater started talking to me and all of a sudden -- bang! Then started seeing smoke coming through the air vents. I called the cockpit; but couldn't see any power or noticed if the cockpit could hear it; so I rang again. Since this plane has a high low chime; they actually get all of my chimes and were on alert. I didn't know this until we debriefed about it. He said; 'did you realize how many chimes you did?' no. I told him why and he said; well you definitely got my attention.' anyhow; he got on the PA and told the passenger to turn around if they are in the aisle and exit the aircraft and then those that are seated to leave everything and exit the aircraft. The #1 got on the PA when no one moved and said the same as the captain. Everyone exited and maintenance got on. Everyone was safe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 WAS EVACUATED DURING BOARDING WHEN THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE.

Narrative: I WAS IN THE REAR OF ACFT DURING BOARDING. THE POSSIBLE JUMPSEATER STARTED TALKING TO ME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN -- BANG! THEN STARTED SEEING SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. I CALLED THE COCKPIT; BUT COULDN'T SEE ANY PWR OR NOTICED IF THE COCKPIT COULD HEAR IT; SO I RANG AGAIN. SINCE THIS PLANE HAS A HIGH LOW CHIME; THEY ACTUALLY GET ALL OF MY CHIMES AND WERE ON ALERT. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS UNTIL WE DEBRIEFED ABOUT IT. HE SAID; 'DID YOU REALIZE HOW MANY CHIMES YOU DID?' NO. I TOLD HIM WHY AND HE SAID; WELL YOU DEFINITELY GOT MY ATTN.' ANYHOW; HE GOT ON THE PA AND TOLD THE PAX TO TURN AROUND IF THEY ARE IN THE AISLE AND EXIT THE ACFT AND THEN THOSE THAT ARE SEATED TO LEAVE EVERYTHING AND EXIT THE ACFT. THE #1 GOT ON THE PA WHEN NO ONE MOVED AND SAID THE SAME AS THE CAPT. EVERYONE EXITED AND MAINT GOT ON. EVERYONE WAS SAFE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.