Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors
While in cruise; at FL380; flight attendants in the rear of the aircraft called to report a burning smell; haze; and eye and throat irritation. Flight attendants thoroughly searched the area but were unable to determine the source. No indications of smoke or fire appeared on cockpit displays. The flight attendants shut off the In Flight Entertainment [IFE] system and we selected the utility busses off; but these actions had no effect on the smell or haze.Due to the uncertainty of the situation we elected to divert to a land at a nearby airport. We declared an emergency and landed uneventfully. The aircraft was not overweight. ARFF looked the aircraft over with thermal imaging after landing and continued to investigate after parking at the gate. No evidence of fire or source of smoke were found. The passengers were deplaned via jetbridge through the 1L door and cargo doors were opened after deplaning.
When the aft flight attendants reported haze and smoke and a source could not be determined the Captain of a B767-300ER elected to divert to a nearby suitable airport. No source or evidence of fire was immediately determined.