Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Evacuated
Aircraft
While in cruise en route from ZZZ to ZZZ1 at FL380 an amber 'Baggage Smoke' EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System) message illuminated. The message went away and re-illuminated a moment later. Pilot monitoring consulted appropriate checklist and upon completion the checklist directs landing at nearest suitable airport. ZZZ2 was approximately 80 miles straight ahead with good visual conditions and the pilot flying began a stable descent while the pilot monitoring advised ATC. Lead passenger was notified of the destination change and brief email was sent to dispatch advising of the diversion and reason. During descent; another EICAS message indicating that the ground spoilers had deployed provided further assurance that the smoke indication was real and flight crew treated the emergency as genuine fire. Pilot flying performed emergency descent and pilot monitoring performed remaining descent checklist tasks while speed was kept as fast as practicable until slowing for landing was necessary. Aircraft was stopped on the runway centerline and orderly evacuation out the main entry door was performed with no injuries to passengers or crew. No supplemental oxygen was used by passengers. Initial inspection of aircraft with Fire Department officials using thermal equipment showed no abnormal hot spots and no physical indications of fire to include soot or smell existed in the baggage compartment or aft equipment bay. Passengers were taken via van to airline terminal and continued on their journey while flight crew remained with airplane. Flight crew performed normal preflight fire checks and elected to taxi to the FBO with a fire truck escort and a Company Maintenance Tech was already on site to assist with maintenance assessment.
We had an indication of smoke (CAS message) in the baggage compartment. We ran the checklist and decided to divert to a closer airport. We started a somewhat normal descent and spoke to the lead passenger/aircraft owner that we were diverting. Shortly after that we got another CAS (Crew Alert System) message that our ground air brakes were deployed. That is when we [requested priority handling] and I did an emergency descent and kept our speed up until we had to slow to configure the aircraft to landing. When we landed we stopped on the runway and evacuated the passengers through the main aircraft door. I went to the baggage door and felt of it to see if it were hot then unlocked and opened it so the firemen could have access. Thankfully there was no fire or smoke and [other pilot] opened the aft equipment bay to allow access in that area. After the fireman checked it we ran the normal fire tests and then cranked up and the fire trucks escorted us to the FBO.
Air carrier flight crew reported receiving a baggage smoke EICAS message; diverted and landed without incident.