Narrative:

At FL290; the #1 flight attendant reported an unusual odor in the cabin. The odor was described as a strong 'burning kerosene type odor.' the first officer; who was the PNF at this time; also noticed an unusual kerosene odor in the cockpit. We performed the initial action items for smoke or fumes removal and again checked with the #1 flight attendant who informed me the odor was worsening. I had the first officer declare an emergency; ask ATC for the nearest airport; WX report; and relay our divert to the company. ATC informed us ZZZ was 35 mi away and the latest WX I heard was 5 mi visibility and VFR conditions. I xferred control of the aircraft to the first officer and had him continue to work with ATC and take us to ZZZ. Meanwhile; I advised the #1 flight attendant to prepare for landing in approximately 15 mins and began the smoke or fumes removal checklist. Finally; upon opening the outflow valve at around 9000 ft MSL; the #1 flight attendant reported the odor was dissipating. The first officer with great help from ATC did an excellent job descending us into ZZZ and we were now on vectors for runway 18R when ATC informs us that runway 18R has 'microburst' alerts. I elect not to land on runway 18R and take vectors for runway 5 at the recommendation of ATC. While on final to runway 5 with the runway in sight at approximately 400 ft AGL; tower reports 'microburst' alerts going off for runway 5. I commanded a go around and we proceeded on vectors clear of the WX area. We were finally vectored to runway 36L as the WX area was moving away from the field. We landed safely on runway 36L and I had the airport crash fire rescue equipment personnel check the aircraft for smoke/fire or fluid leaks and none were noted. I taxied to the gate and the passenger and crew deplaned uneventfully.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT OF B737-200 EXPERIENCE ABNORMAL FUMES AND ODORS. DIVERTED TO ZZZ WHERE THEY ENCOUNTER REPEATED MICROBURST ALERTS AND RWY CHANGES BEFORE LNDG.

Narrative: AT FL290; THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT RPTED AN UNUSUAL ODOR IN THE CABIN. THE ODOR WAS DESCRIBED AS A STRONG 'BURNING KEROSENE TYPE ODOR.' THE FO; WHO WAS THE PNF AT THIS TIME; ALSO NOTICED AN UNUSUAL KEROSENE ODOR IN THE COCKPIT. WE PERFORMED THE INITIAL ACTION ITEMS FOR SMOKE OR FUMES REMOVAL AND AGAIN CHKED WITH THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT WHO INFORMED ME THE ODOR WAS WORSENING. I HAD THE FO DECLARE AN EMER; ASK ATC FOR THE NEAREST ARPT; WX RPT; AND RELAY OUR DIVERT TO THE COMPANY. ATC INFORMED US ZZZ WAS 35 MI AWAY AND THE LATEST WX I HEARD WAS 5 MI VISIBILITY AND VFR CONDITIONS. I XFERRED CTL OF THE ACFT TO THE FO AND HAD HIM CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ATC AND TAKE US TO ZZZ. MEANWHILE; I ADVISED THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT TO PREPARE FOR LNDG IN APPROX 15 MINS AND BEGAN THE SMOKE OR FUMES REMOVAL CHKLIST. FINALLY; UPON OPENING THE OUTFLOW VALVE AT AROUND 9000 FT MSL; THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT RPTED THE ODOR WAS DISSIPATING. THE FO WITH GREAT HELP FROM ATC DID AN EXCELLENT JOB DSNDING US INTO ZZZ AND WE WERE NOW ON VECTORS FOR RWY 18R WHEN ATC INFORMS US THAT RWY 18R HAS 'MICROBURST' ALERTS. I ELECT NOT TO LAND ON RWY 18R AND TAKE VECTORS FOR RWY 5 AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF ATC. WHILE ON FINAL TO RWY 5 WITH THE RWY IN SIGHT AT APPROX 400 FT AGL; TWR RPTS 'MICROBURST' ALERTS GOING OFF FOR RWY 5. I COMMANDED A GAR AND WE PROCEEDED ON VECTORS CLR OF THE WX AREA. WE WERE FINALLY VECTORED TO RWY 36L AS THE WX AREA WAS MOVING AWAY FROM THE FIELD. WE LANDED SAFELY ON RWY 36L AND I HAD THE ARPT CFR PERSONNEL CHK THE ACFT FOR SMOKE/FIRE OR FLUID LEAKS AND NONE WERE NOTED. I TAXIED TO THE GATE AND THE PAX AND CREW DEPLANED UNEVENTFULLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.