Citation Latitude (C680A)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During cruise flight at FL430 the red master warning light illuminated accompanied with red CAS message Baggage Fire and aural Baggage Fire and red Baggage Fire button illuminated on pedestal. Pilot not flying opened emergency checklist and instructed pilot flying to press Baggage Fire button on pedestal. Pilot flying pressed the Baggage Fire button and the white CAS message Fire Bottle Low Bag/APU posted. Pilot Flying noted ZZZ was nearby with suitable field length and emergency services. Pilot not flying [advised] ATC and requested landing at ZZZ. ATC cleared us for descent and vectors to ZZZ. On downwind for runway XXR tower asked if we could follow a Gulfstream on final. I replied that we needed to land as soon as possible and the Gulfstream was directed to go around. Before landing I told tower that if the controller or fire department saw indication of fire on the aircraft; that we would stop on runway and perform emergency egress. If they did not report visual indications of Fire; we would taxi clear of runway. The tower reported no indications of Fire and we taxied to FBO. Pilot flying set parking break and began shutdown and pilot not flying opened cabin door and asked all 10 passengers to egress without bags to the FBO while we investigated the baggage Fire. Airport fire department followed the aircraft to the FBO and was present when baggage door was opened. All baggage was removed and no sign of Fire was found. Suggestions: Emergency procedures were followed efficiently; and the airplane was on the ground 14 minutes after the fire was annunciated. One thing we could have done differently was to ask for landing on runway opposite the active direction which could have gotten us on the ground a minute or two sooner.
Aircraft X experienced a Baggage Fire CAS; aural warning; and baggage fire light (pedestal) while at FL430. I as the pilot flying began to assess the situation. I completed the checklist tasks in concurrence with my fellow crew member. I began to find possible diversion airports within distance. ZZZ was an airport within range that I suggested. We elected to divert to that airport. [We advised ATC and]; I immediately began a rapid descent to safe (altitude). The crew completed all appropriate checklists; notified the passengers; and developed an egress plan while in the descent. We planned on a visual left downwind entry and landing on runway XXR at ZZZ. I configured early; maintained a tight pattern; and performed a max performance landing. ATC did not indicate a baggage fire from their perspective; so we elected to vacate the runway and taxi to the FBO. At the FBO; I stopped and secured the airplane. My co-captain began to assist the passengers egressing the airplane. He also went to assist ARFF with opening the baggage compartment. I began to communicate with company personal and local law enforcement. Once we determined that there was no fire in the baggage compartment; we began moving bags off the airplane and developed a supplemental lift arrangement for the passengers.Suggestions: Crew could have landed on YYL as it was the closer and more aligned runway with our current orientation to the airport. Second; being more assertive with ATC while in an emergency.
CE680A flight crew reported diverting due to baggage compartment fire indications.