without going into the propriety or if it was a breach of SOP, if the action taken was, as stated in the first post:
[rest snipped] ...detecting "a pungent burning smell" througout the cabin, cabin crew instigated an evacuation without pilot permission or knowledge.
I wonder why has the discussion not veered towards suspicion of
aerotoxic syndrome? This, in turn, prompts me to ask, did not the timely action by CC result in prevention of ill-effects of the cause of whatever compound was emitting the noticed pungent odour? Even if it was an incorrect action, if the motive of this act of commission was the safety of the passengers, should not the CC be commended for action taken?