Alaska Airlines Halts Flight from Honolulu as Crew Members Fall Ill

Weather is the leading cause of flight cancellations in the United States. For this Alaska flight, it was something completely out of the norm that left those onboard wanting to exit the aircraft before departing Hawaii.

According to reports, Alaska Airlines said that two of the flight attendants on its Flight 828 (from Honolulu to Anchorage) reported feeling unwell due to what is only described as a strange odor emanating from the rear of the aircraft. With these attendants unable to perform their assignments, the Boeing 737-900 aircraft no longer had enough crew members to continue operating the flight. As a result, Flight 828 was canceled on Monday.

Potential causes of the odor on Alaska Hawaii aircraft?

The specific source of the odor remains unidentified thus far, but numerous possibilities could explain the situation:

Lavatory and waste management issues. There’s no delicate way to describe this. Problems such as malfunctioning or overflowing toilets, leaks in the plumbing system, or issues with the sewage tanks can result in foul smells permeating the cabin. Airliners have sophisticated systems, but any issue here might produce noticeable, unpleasant, or sickening odors.

Ventilation-related problems. Airliners rely on complex ventilation systems to circulate and filter air. Any problems in these can lead to air quality problems. Modern airliners use bleed air from the engines for pressurization and ventilation. Sometimes, this can become contaminated with fumes from engine oil or other chemicals, especially if the aircraft is stationary and specific wind conditions are present. These fumes can infiltrate the cabin and lead to noticeable and often very unpleasant smells, which can potentially cause issues for passengers and crew.

Chemical and cleaning products. While unlikely, strong odors may emanate when cleaning agents or chemicals that are used in maintenance or sanitation, if proper ventilation does not occur.

Impact on Alaska Air passengers.

Passengers on the affected flight were obviously frustrated, as is the case in any flight cancellation, but probably relieved not to be stuck in the air for hours if there was a significant odor issue. Alaska Airlines accommodated passengers including providing transportation on alternative flights.