Description

On 22 October 2006 a blue haze was observed in the passenger cabin of a Boeing 757-200 being operated by Thomsonfly shortly after it reached cruise altitude on a scheduled passenger flight from Newcastle to Larnaca. A precautionary diversion was made to London Stansted, where an emergency evacuation was carried out successfully.

Synopsis

The following is an extract from the UK AAIB report on the Serious Incident:

[…] "Approximately five minutes after reaching its cruising level of FL 370 over the North Sea, the cabin manager (CM) contacted the flight crew via interphone to report a “haze” and an unusual smell in the cabin. She commented that the haze seemed worse in the rear of the cabin, but could not smell anything from her position at the front galley. On inspecting the cabin the commander saw a fine blue-grey haze, but could not detect any unusual smells. He returned to the flight deck, having requested that the CM report any change. She contacted him again shortly afterwards to advise that the smoke was getting worse.

The commander instructed the co-pilot to declare a ‘PAN’ to Maastricht ATC, with whom they were already in contact, to request a descent and direct routing to Stansted, approximately 100 nm distant. The CM then entered the flight deck to be briefed.