EMB ERJ 140 ER/LR
Dispatch Dispatcher
Communication Breakdown
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Diverted
Human Factors
En route the crew experienced an indication of smoke in the cargo compartment. They blew the bottle and declared an emergency. They communicated to me that they would be diverting to ZZZ. I inquired if they needed any further assistance and they did not. I informed ZZZ that they would be arriving. I diverted the plane in the system but failed to send the crew a message that the flight plan had been amended. In the past diverting the flight in the system once; notified the crew that it was diverting. In the past that has been sufficient as it was understood that the release was amended. I will be more diligent in the future to follow the new interpretation of the requirements. Simply to be more diligent at following directives.
Dispatcher is informed of a diversion by one of his flights due to a smoke indication in the cargo compartment but failed to send the crew a message that the flight plan had been amended as required by current policy.