Description

On 14 October 2017, a Boeing 777-300ER (A6-ETR) was being operated by Etihad on a scheduled international passenger flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney at night with an augmented crew when a burning smell coming from an air vent in the flight deck was followed by a lower deck hold fire warning. After discharging the hold fire extinguisher, a MAYDAY diversion was made to Adelaide without further event. After landing, a fire service inspection found no evidence of an active fire and a precautionary rapid disembarkation was completed.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). It was established that with the relief crew in charge of the aircraft, a burning smell had been detected coming from an air vent. After checking with cabin crew in the forward galley that there was no similar burning smell there, two other members of the cabin crew were asked to enter the flight deck and they confirmed the presence of a burning smell there. At around this time, a fire warning was activated accompanied by an EICAS message indicating that the location was the forward cargo hold. The corresponding Check List was completed and, a MAYDAY declared and a diversion to Adelaide, the nearest suitable airport, was commenced.