A330 flight crew reported returning to departure airport after 'dirty socks' fumes were reported in ...

Attributes
ACN	1431757
Time
Date	201703
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	FO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A330
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Air Conditioning and Pressurization Pack
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Narrative:

During climb; flight attendant called and stated strong odor in aft cabin. Odor was like a dirty sock pack smell mixed with a metallic and slightly acidic smell. Sent international relief officer back to check and verify. It dissipated and then the smell was noticed by flight attendant again; international relief officer again went aft to check and confirmed slight smell. Smell noted in cockpit. Just after his return; lead flight attendant called again and reported strong smell in first class with a 'haze'. Made decision to return to [departure airport]; [advised ATC]; donned O2 per QRH smoke/fumes procedure and turned [back] direct. Contacted company. Made overweight landing using QRH procedure. Had emergency personnel accompany aircraft to gate. Odor and fumes in aircraft. Find and fix source of fumes and odors. Providing for dedicated fumes (not smoke) QRH procedure would help and address specific area. Educate pilots and flight attendants for fumes in aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A330 flight crew reported returning to departure airport after 'dirty socks' fumes were reported in the cabin.

Narrative: During climb; Flight Attendant called and stated strong odor in aft cabin. Odor was like a dirty sock pack smell mixed with a metallic and slightly acidic smell. Sent IRO back to check and verify. It dissipated and then the smell was noticed by Flight Attendant again; IRO again went aft to check and confirmed slight smell. Smell noted in cockpit. Just after his return; Lead Flight Attendant called again and reported strong smell in First Class with a 'haze'. Made decision to return to [departure airport]; [advised ATC]; donned O2 per QRH Smoke/Fumes Procedure and turned [back] direct. Contacted company. Made OVERWEIGHT landing using QRH procedure. Had Emergency Personnel accompany aircraft to gate. Odor and fumes in aircraft. Find and fix source of fumes and odors. Providing for dedicated Fumes (not Smoke) QRH procedure would help and address specific area. Educate Pilots and Flight Attendants for fumes in aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.