Widebody; Low Wing; 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Human Factors
During our flight; we noticed a strong odor in the courier area first and then the cockpit about an hour into our flight. Upon noticing the odor was intensifying in smell; we diverted into ZZZ. Landing uneventful.The event was brought on entirely due to an odor from the airplane's cargo compartment.
During cruise flight about 1.5 after takeoff; I left cockpit for lavatory. After closing the cockpit door I detected strong fumes which reminded me of rust remover type fluids. I immediately felt a little sick and returned to the cockpit. We [advised ATC and diverted to the nearest suitable alternate]. We performed the Cockpit Fumes checklist and wore our oxygen masks the rest of the flight. I was not sure how reliable I felt so I instructed the First Officer to fly the airplane. He did a perfect divert profile. Emergency vehicles were waiting and reported no external abnormalities.Once the aircraft was depressurized the fumes came into the cockpit much stronger. We opened both cockpit windows and taxied in. I elected to taxi to our ramp and have the stairs ready rather than egress via the slides. I considered this to be quicker and safer. Upon exiting the aircraft we were met by the crash crew and EMTs. After consultation we were taken to an ER by ambulance. We were both diagnosed as normal and released. The ground personnel could smell the fumes from outside the aircraft and remained clear until a suited DG agent entered and began looking for the source. He found a leaking metal container; about 5 gallons in size. The substance was identified as 1H; 1H; 2H; 2H - perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane.It appears that the shipper did not declare his shipment as DG. The substance was in a dented tin 5 gallon can; placed inside a handmade plywood box. For unknown reason the container began leaking inflight. Do not service this shipper anymore. Customers must declare all hazardous material.
Flight crew detects solvent fumes and elect to divert to the nearest suitable airport. Once on the ground; a search of the main cargo deck reveals a leaking five gallon can of perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane that had been enclosed in a plywood box without a hazmat label of any sort.