top of page

Germanwings, Fumes Onboard

A Germanwings Airbus A320-200, registration D-AIQH performing flight 4U-2181 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Stuttgart (Germany) with 64 passengers and 6 crew, was taxiing for departure when a light nasty odour was noticed throughout the aircraft. Following departure the odour became significantly pronounced developing as a smell of old socks, that was clearly noticeable in both flight deck and the forward area of the cabin. The flight crew donned their oxygen masks, checked with the cabin which reported more or less okay, disabled the left hand engine (CFM56) bleed air and left hand air conditioning system resulting in the smell dissipating and decided to continue to Stuttgart. Enroute with no smell detectable the flight crew removed their oxygen masks. During the descent the smell returned briefly when the crew attempted to re-engage left hand bleed air and air conditioning and dissipated after the left hand bleed air and air conditioning system were switched off again. The aircraft landed safely on Stuttgart's runway 25 about 50 minutes after departure from Amsterdam. There were no complaints about health issues from both passengers and cabin crew following the flight. The following day a flight attendant reported health issues consistent with contaminated cabin air and went to see a doctor. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 39 hours before resuming service. Initial findings suggest that although the aircraft had not been de-iced in Stuttgart for the outbound flight and in Amsterdam for the occurrence flight, de-icing fluid had entered the left hand engine in larger quantities as well as the right hand engine in smaller quantities. Previous flights had been without any anomaly. Germany's BFU reported they are aware of the occurrence and are currently collecting information to decide about the classification of the occurrence.

6 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Delta Airlines, Smoke in Cockpit

A Delta Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N3734B performing flight DL-1406 from Raleigh-Durham,NC to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was enroute at FL360 about 130nm eastsoutheast of Colorado Springs,CO (US

Mesa Airlines, Smoke in Cabin

A Mesa Airlines Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of United, registration N85340 performing flight UA-6266 from Houston Intercontinental,TX to Boise,ID (USA) with 80 people on board, was climbing out of Houst

American Airlines, Engine Fire over Pacific

n American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N782AN performing flight AA-60 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA), was enroute at FL360 over the Pacific Ocean about 1000nm west of

bottom of page