Narrative:

In cruise at FL350; we noticed an odor in the cockpit. I called the first class cabin to ask if the ovens were in use. Our purser; reported that the ovens were not in use. I asked her to come to the cockpit. When she entered the cockpit she immediately confirmed a strong odor was present. I instructed her to wake all crew in the crew rest areas including my first officer and to start preparations to land. I gave her an estimated time for landing in ZZZZ. She asked if she should prepare for evacuation. I told her not at this time. However; I asked her to immediately report any odor; smoke; or anything she or the cabin crew considered critical to us. My relief pilot had already donned his oxygen mask; established communications; and was prepared to start the smoke; fire; or fumes QRH checklist. I donned my mask and attempted to establish communications as we started running the checklist. The first officer returned to the cockpit and joined us in the performing the checklist from the observer's seat. The checklist requires a diversion of the flight to the nearest suitable airport. ZZZZ was directly in front of our location. I declared an emergency using the international radio call 'mayday; mayday; mayday' to ZZZZ control and requested a clearance directly to ZZZZ. ZZZZ ATC issued the clearance without hesitation including a request to report descent clearance. I reported to ZZZZ ATC our fuel remaining in hours and the souls on board count. The checklist required a discussion to determine the air quality in the cockpit. We determined that the fumes were not increasing (which was a change to the condition); however; the fumes were continuing to be present in the cockpit. The first officers switched seats and the first officer started to review the approach to ILS and a review of the high terrain to the east of our course as the relief pilot communicated with dispatch for weather and airport conditions including landing performance. I completed the change to the route in the FMC to intercept the arrival with a high speed descent to intercept the ILS approach. We briefed the approach and discussed our exit plan including a review of duties in the event of an evacuation. I made a passenger address and told the passengers we had fumes in the cockpit. I told them we were going to land at ZZZZ and to listen to the instructions from our flight attendants. It was time to start our descent. Ten minutes from landing; the relief pilot notified the flight attendants. The approach and landing was routine. I exited the runway and made a passenger address to remain seated. We requested clearance to a gate. We secured the airplane with the completion of the parking checklist except we left the IRS units on to allow use of the satcom. We opened the cockpit windows for a breath of fresh air and switched our attention to passenger accommodation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 flight crew detects electrical fumes in the cockpit at FL350 and elects to divert to the nearest suitable airport.

Narrative: In cruise at FL350; we noticed an odor in the cockpit. I called the first class cabin to ask if the ovens were in use. Our purser; reported that the ovens were not in use. I asked her to come to the cockpit. When she entered the cockpit she immediately confirmed a strong odor was present. I instructed her to wake all crew in the crew rest areas including my first officer and to start preparations to land. I gave her an estimated time for landing in ZZZZ. She asked if she should prepare for evacuation. I told her not at this time. However; I asked her to immediately report any odor; smoke; or anything she or the cabin crew considered critical to us. My Relief pilot had already donned his oxygen mask; established communications; and was prepared to start the Smoke; Fire; or Fumes QRH checklist. I donned my mask and attempted to establish communications as we started running the checklist. The first officer returned to the cockpit and joined us in the performing the checklist from the observer's seat. The checklist requires a diversion of the flight to the nearest suitable airport. ZZZZ was directly in front of our location. I declared an emergency using the international radio call 'Mayday; Mayday; Mayday' to ZZZZ Control and requested a clearance directly to ZZZZ. ZZZZ ATC issued the clearance without hesitation including a request to report descent clearance. I reported to ZZZZ ATC our fuel remaining in hours and the souls on board count. The checklist required a discussion to determine the air quality in the cockpit. We determined that the fumes were not increasing (which was a change to the condition); however; the fumes were continuing to be present in the cockpit. The First Officers switched seats and the First Officer started to review the approach to ILS and a review of the high terrain to the east of our course as the Relief pilot communicated with dispatch for weather and airport conditions including landing performance. I completed the change to the route in the FMC to intercept the arrival with a high speed descent to intercept the ILS approach. We briefed the approach and discussed our exit plan including a review of duties in the event of an evacuation. I made a passenger address and told the passengers we had fumes in the cockpit. I told them we were going to land at ZZZZ and to listen to the instructions from our flight attendants. It was time to start our descent. Ten minutes from landing; the relief pilot notified the flight attendants. The approach and landing was routine. I exited the runway and made a passenger address to remain seated. We requested clearance to a gate. We secured the airplane with the completion of the Parking Checklist except we left the IRS units on to allow use of the SATCOM. We opened the cockpit windows for a breath of fresh air and switched our attention to passenger accommodation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.