Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Speed All Types; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Diverted
Aircraft
Climbing through FL260 a Flight Attendant called up to say that there was an electrical burning smell. The Captain went back to check it out while a Flight Attendant came into the cockpit with me. He returned a minute later and asked me to go check if I smelled anything. I went back and around row one smelled a distinct electrical burning smell similar to when something short circuits. I returned to the cockpit and advised the Captain that I smelled it and felt that we needed to get on the ground. Prior to leaving the cockpit I called up nearest airports on my MFD and saw that we were within a few minutes of several.The Captain [advised ATC]; and we initiated a descent and turn back to one of the nearby airports which was VMC. Coming through 10;000 I maintained 300 knots in an effort to get the aircraft safely on the ground in case there was a fire. We ran all of our checklists and made a safe overweight landing on RWY XX. As we pulled off the runway the firetrucks met the aircraft but did not observe any fire; so we had them follow us to the gate. Firefighters boarded the plane and concurred that there was a smell of an electrical fire. Maintenance found a fan in the galley/lav area had shorted out and failed; causing the smell.
A CRJ-900 diverted to a nearby airport after the flight attendants and the flight crew agreed there was a clear electrical burning odor in the front of the passenger cabin.  After landing and inspection Maintenance found a failed fan in the galley area that had shorted out; causing the odor.