EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
As the crew was climbing to our cruising altitude; the Flight Attendant (FA) called to the pilots that fumes/smoke was coming from the galley area. The crew requested vectors back to [the departure airport] for the visual approach. A short time later the FA called back up to the cockpit that said the smoke was coming from the hot water jug; she proceeded to turn off the jug and advised the crew that the smoke had subsided. The crew proceeded to perform a normal landing and pulled off the runway to confirm with the FA that the fumes/smoke had stopped at which point the crew felt comfortable to taxi to the gate and deplane normally.
During climb out at 8000 feet the Flight Attendant (FA) notified us that we had fumes/smoke in the galley. We immediately received vectors and a decent to return to [the departure airport]. During the return to the field the FA called and informed us that she had turned off the switch to the hot water jug and that the fumes had diminished. We landed and pulled off the runway and called the FA back and was told that the fumes had stopped. We had the fire trucks follow us back to the gate and we deplaned the passengers with no further issues. The fire department came onboard and found that the hot water jug was faulty and overheated.
During climb an EMB-145 hot water jug overheated causing smoke and fumes which the Flight Attendant reported to the Captain. The flight returned safely to the departure airport with the water jug switch turned off.