EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
While operating Aircraft X from ZZZ1 to ZZZ at approximately 19;000 feet odor was detected in cockpit and confirmed in cabin of possible burning smell. Simultaneously a passenger was displaying signs of inebriation and possible medical distress. Passenger had multiple narcotic medications and beers that he had brought on the plane. The flight attendant notified cockpit and recommended medical personnel to meet the plane as well as law-enforcement personnel. While descending through 10;000 feet crew was unable to contact Approach after discussing the crew elected to not request priority due to odor dissipating. Odor re-presented three separate times with no thrust lever manipulation or control change or electrical system manipulation. Aircraft landed without incident to Runway XX ILS in ZZZ. Medical personnel and law-enforcement personnel met aircraft; ground personnel deplaned all passengers except for medical emergency. Law-enforcement personnel met passenger; non incident.
During a routine flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ; with about 20 minutes left in flight a call to the flight deck was received [from] our flight attendant. Immediately we could tell that the flight attendant was concerned about something. He mentioned that a passenger sitting in row XX had sneaked on open containers of alcohol and may have been drinking it. The concerning part was that the passenger also had a large gallon sized zip lock filled with prescription pill containers. The passenger had allegedly mixed some of these pills with the alcohol and had mentioned to the flight attendant that he did not feel well. We continued to ZZZ since it was our closest airport. Medics were called by operations when we asked them to. Paramedics met airplane and took care of this passenger.  In addition to the passenger issue; this particular aircraft had given off some fumes in the descent into ZZZ. It had a burning electrics smell. I wrote the airplane up upon landing.
Air carrier flight crew reported an intermittent fume event during initial descent. Flight completed a safe landing at destination.