MD-11
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
Crew called via SATCOM approximately 50 nm north of ZZZZZ intersection to request phone patch with [Maintenance Control]. Crew was on oxygen as they were getting slow intermittent cabin smoke alerts. No FSS activation or smell of smoke present. Alert would appear for a few seconds and then disappear. [Maintenance Control] checked the systems on his end and suspected it might be just an indication issue. Call got disconnected and crew called back within 2-3 minutes. While on the phone patch; crew advised that alerts were becoming more constant. At this point we collectively agreed to cease the call and divert to nearest suitable. ZZZZ was approximately 220 nm ahead and we elected to divert there. Sent crew the latest weather and reroute message to ZZZZ but elected to omit sending the NOTAMs due to being in [priority] descent and the numerous amounts of ACARS messages required to send NOTAMs to the printer. ZZZZ Ramp/Recovery/Manager/Duty Officer was advised of Aircraft X being diverted. Dumped approximately 15k of fuel (fuel dump report sent); [ATC was advised] and services were dispatched. Flight blocked in with no issues. Local MX determined that 3 consecutive smoke detectors (10-12) were defective and fixed 1 to comply with MEL that was issued shortly thereafter. Once blocked in; crew called and conferenced with Duty Officer so we can get more information about the divert. Crew stated that in there was some lithium batteries nearby the smoke detectors in question. With regards to omitting the ZZZZ NOTAMs due to [priority] descent and close proximity of the airport. I could have sent a quick summation of the NOTAMs to the effect of 'all runways open and no applicable NOTAMs impacting any approaches.' Another prevention is to increase character limits in ACARs to send large amounts of information to the printer.
Dispatcher reported SATCOM from airborne flight crew reported intermittent Cabin Smoke Alerts. Flight crew advised ATC; and diverted to nearest suitable field for maintenance.