MD-11
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 9000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
During the descent at approx 12;000 feet our ACM (additional crew member/jump seater) noticed 2 bright white sparks which came from over the galley area; quickly followed by acrid smell and smoke in the courier area ceiling area.  He came up to the flight deck to report this about the same time the smell and smoke were noticed in the flight deck.  The CA (Captain) left his seat briefly and upon seeing the smoke in the ceiling area; came back up and notified ATC.  I noted to the CA and ACM that they should immediately pull all the galley circuit breakers; that we didn't need that equipment and likely the cause of the problem.  The ACM did this immediately.  As the PF (pilot flying); I continued to fly expeditiously to the airport while the CA (Pilot Monitoring) accomplished the smoke/fire/fumes checklist.  My O2 mask was pulled but not donned.  Shortly after the galley CB's were pulled the smoke and fumes began to dissipate.  The CA notified ATC that the situation was improving but we still requested priority handling.  We were already on final and visual with [runway] XXR and cleared to land.  Landing was uneventful and we exited the runway; taxiing to our ramp followed by fire and rescue equipment.  After shutdown; the CA went to disarm and open doors for personnel with he found that the cabin doors would not open electrically.  That was when he noticed the ground service bus CB was popped.  Maintenance was contacted via interphone and notified that we could not open doors electrically.  Rather than blow the door open pneumatically we chose to wait for Maintenance to get the door open.  (There was no evidence at this point that smoke/fire was a threat).  Maintenance personnel were able to mechanically open the door.  Fire personnel came up and we described the above situation.    Quick action by our ACM and expeditious handling by ATC and all crew members brought this to a successful conclusion.
During descend into ZZZ1 ACM [Additional Crew Member] onboard brought to our attention that sparks and smoke was coming from behind galley area. Smoke and fumes were confirmed and ATC was notified. We requested priority handling to airport. CB's to galley were pulled. Smoke and fumes subsided. No delay occurred in our handling from ATC.  After block in the ground service CB was noted popped. Communication was established with MX and Manuel operation of entry door utilized due to door on that buss.
MD-11 flight crew reported 'sparks and smoke' behind the galley area during descent. The smoke and fumes dissipated after the appropriate CB's were pulled.