EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
Upon departure from Runway XXR; just as we reached acceleration altitude I received an emergency PA from the flight attendant informing me there was smoke in the cabin. I immediately shut off the gasper fan; the recirc fan; the packs; and the APU bleed. I inquired as to the severity and was told 'it's bad.' My First Officer and myself did not see or smell anything resembling smoke. I immediately informed ATC we would like priority handling and requested vectors for an approach back into ZZZ. I asked the flight attendant if the passengers were in danger and if I needed to drop the oxygen masks. I was told at this point 'no' and was informed that the smoke had stopped. I asked the flight attendant to remain on the PA and to inform me the instant any more signs of smoke appeared.We were given vectors around to shoot the ILS to Runway XXR. I told the flight attendant we would be landing soon and to plan for a normal landing and taxi back assuming the smoke remained stopped. After a successful overweight landing; we exited the runway and taxied into the ramp. We had fire trucks follow us into our gate. They informed us they saw no heat signatures on our aircraft. The aircraft was successfully deplaned without injury or incident. Contract maintenance arrived a short while later and found a panel light in above seat X had shorted out and burned through the contact casing.Hindsight 20/20 I wouldn't have requested priority handling. In the moment; given the information I had to work with; I made a decision based on the fact that I thought there was a fire in the cabin and wanted to get the aircraft on the ground as quickly and as safely as possible. Crew Resource Management was almost nonexistent during this event. There was a very big language barrier between myself and my First Officer. During normal operations I often struggled to understand what he was saying. I took the lead on the radios; navigating; the communication with the flight attendant; and piloting the aircraft.
EMB-145 First Officer reported returning to the departure airport due to smoke in the cabin.