By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Jul 6th 2011 13:36Z, last updated Wednesday, Jul 6th 2011 13:36Z
A TuiFly Boeing 737-800, registration D-AHFH performing flight X3-2218 from Stuttgart (Germany) to Tenerife Sur Reina Sofia,CI (Spain), was enroute at FL370 about 170nm northeast of Lisbon (Portugal) when both flight crew began to feel unwell (slight breathing anomaly, head ache, lack of concentration). Almost at the same time cabin crew inquired whether the air conditioning was working okay reporting all passengers behaved conspicuously quiet, cabin crew also complained about head ache. The flight crew rearranged air conditioning, descended the aircraft to FL330 in order to improve cabin air however without noticeable improvement, cabin crew reported smelling oil fumes in the cabin. The crew therefore decided to divert to Faro (Portugal), where the aircraft landed safely about 35 minutes later. Flight and cabin crew were taken to a local hospital for blood tests.
A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration D-AHFZ reached Tenerife with a delay of 8 hours.
The airline said the incident was reported to Germany's Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfahrtbundesamt LBA) und Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau (BFU). An Aerotracer Test performed by Lufthansa Technics on Jul 4th ruled out any cabin air contamination. Some members of the crew suffered from minor respiratory problems but recovered quickly, as a precaution the crew was taken to a local hospital. None of the passengers reported problems although asked by crew and medical staff at Faro Airport. Due to the ongoing investigation by the BFU no further details can be provided.
Germany's BFU rated the occurrence a serious incident and confirmed to conduct an investigation, which will also include examination of the cabin air.
Another TuiFly Boeing 737-800 had suffered an oil fumes event causing partial incapacitation to the crew in March 2011, see: Incident: TUIFly B738 near Alicante on Mar 15th 2011, fumes on board, crew partially incapacitated.
