Widebody; Low Wing; 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Human Factors
While at cruise altitude; cockpit began filling with smoke. Smoke appeared to come from the ventilation system. Smoke density increased to a point where cockpit visibility was difficult. Both crewmembers immediately donned oxygen masks. Center was contacted and a divert was initiated. Prior to the event; the cockpit temp had been recently adjusted to a warmer setting. When the smoke was noticed; the rheostats were returned to the full cold setting the smoke stopped after 3-5 minutes.The divert; approach; and landing were uneventful. ARFF met the aircraft upon landing. ARFF escorted both flight crew members to the hospital for evaluation. Both crew members were released with no injuries and no signs of smoke inhalation.
During enroute cruise the cockpit filled with smoke from the ventilation duct inside the cockpit. The cockpit filled with smoke requiring the crew to execute the Phase I Oxygen Mask On. Smoke was billowing so much so that it became difficult to see the flight instruments. A temperature adjustment was made prior to the first sign of smoke. The pilot monitoring adjusted the rheostats back to full cold. After approximately 3-5 minutes the smoke dissipated and the visibility increased enough to see the instruments. The landing was uneventful. [Fire rescue] shuttled the crew to a local hospital for observation for potential carbon monoxide poisoning. The crew was released several hours later after tests came back negative.
Flight crew experiences a cockpit full of smoke shortly after the temperature controls have been adjusted to a warmer temperature. Oxygen masks are donned and temperature selected to full cold. As a descent is initiated the smoke begins to dissipate and the crew continues the descent and diverts to a suitable airport.