B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 18000; Flight Crew Type 400
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Passing 24;000 [feet] on climb out the flight attendant in the rear of the aircraft called to say there was a very strong odor of an electrical fire near the rear door of the aircraft. We coordinated with the flight attendants to allow the Captain to go back and check and when he did he called the cockpit on the interphone and said we needed to get on the ground as quickly as possible. I declared an emergency with ATC and asked for an immediate clearance to return. When the Captain returned to the cockpit I briefed him on our clearance and then we accomplished the 'smoke/fire/ fumes' checklist in the QRH. We continued our descent and return but observed that ZZZ was immediately in front of us. Since FARs and good judgment require us to 'land at the nearest suitable airport' we decided to land at ZZZ instead of the departure airport. We coordinated this with ATC and landed. Due to time constraints an overweight landing checklist was not accomplished. After landing we taxied clear of the runway and when emergency vehicles arrived they said they observed a fire in the right side brakes and asked that we shut down the engines in order to allow them to extinguish the fire. We did and they reported a short time later that the fire was out. We coordinated with operations; ATC; and the emergency responders to get the passengers off the aircraft thru the air stairs that had been brought to the rear of the aircraft. After all passengers had been removed we shut the aircraft down and completed the terminating check list.
While climbing through 24;000 the cabin interphone rang. First officer answered and immediately interrupted the flight attendant by saying 'hang on let me let you talk to the captain'. She reported that she smelled a type of smoke in the aft galley that she had not ever smelled before. She knew that the smoke was not related to the normal cooking of meals; use of ovens; or coffee makers. She suspected that the smell was coming from the doorjamb area forward of door 4L.A decision was made that a pilot needed to assess the situation. We arranged for a flight attendant to come to the flight deck while I went to the aft galley. Immediately upon reaching the aft galley's forward bulkhead; I was hit by a strong melted electrical burning smell; similar to a burning transformer or a bundle of wires melting/burning through their insulation. Although discoloration; melting of panels was not apparent; the smell persisted for the several seconds I was in the galley area assessing the situation. I instructed the flight attendants in the area to secure non-water fire extinguishers and to be prepared to use them in the event flames or smoke became visible in the area.As I turned to head back to the cockpit I realized that the cabin air quality just a few rows forward; was significantly better than the fumed area in the aft galley. I made the decision to call First Officer from the door 3 interphone as I walked. I instructed him to declare an emergency; stop climbing and initiate a return. I was convinced that something was burning or in melt down in either the door or the doorjamb area just forward of door 4L.Upon returning to the cockpit we initiated the 'Smoke Fire Fumes' checklist. As we initiated a descent; the smell could be now be faintly detected in cockpit. With visual weather prevailing and ZZZ immediately off the nose of the airplane; the decision was made to expedite landing and shorten our airtime by landing there vs. the departure airport. Time constraints precluded the ability to complete an Overweight landing checklist. A current V speed for aircraft weight was obtained. Circling maneuvers were made at the direction of ATC to dissipate altitude and an overweight landing was accomplished. After landing; brake temperatures were excessive. Ground responders reported no visible issues with the door 4 area; but that our brakes were smoking. Engines were secured; ground fire crews hosed the brakes with water only. Passengers were deplaned using air stairs and bussed to the terminal building.Logbook entries were made for both the Smoke/fumes and the overweight landing.
B757 flight crew climbing through FL240 is informed by a Flight Attendant of strong electrical fumes in the aft galley. After QRH procedures are complied with the crew elects to divert to the closest suitable airport.