Narrative:

Enroute at 16;000 ft over ZZZ; the flight attendant called and asked if we had moved something in the flight deck because she and the passengers had heard a loud bang. We stated to her that we hadn't moved anything and that we also hadn't heard any noise. She then called about 10 seconds later and stated that there was a burning smell in the cabin and at that time we could also smell the burning smell in the flight deck as well. She then stated that the odor was getting stronger and beginning to fill the cabin. I asked the flight attendant if there was any visible smoke and or any visible flames. She replied no; there were no visible flames or smoke; but stated the odor was getting stronger. While the check airman communicated with the flight attendant I informed center of our situation and declared an emergency and asked for a vector to the nearest airport which was ZZZ. At that point the check airman informed the flight attendant that we were diverting to ZZZ and we would be on the ground within 10 minutes with a yellow situation. He assumed control of the aircraft and became the pilot flying and asked me to coordinate with center and complete the appropriate checklists. I completed the appropriate checklists and coordinated vectors for the ILS to ZZZ. We landed at ZZZ and taxied to the gate with an arff escort. We parked at the terminal; shut down the plane and removed the passengers via the airstairs (normal landing) to the main terminal and allowed arff to check the inside and outside of the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF340 flight crew is informed of loud bang and burning smell by the Flight Attendant. Crew declares an emergency and diverts to nearest suitable airport. Cause remains unknown.

Narrative: Enroute at 16;000 FT over ZZZ; the Flight Attendant called and asked if we had moved something in the flight deck because she and the passengers had heard a loud bang. We stated to her that we hadn't moved anything and that we also hadn't heard any noise. She then called about 10 seconds later and stated that there was a burning smell in the cabin and at that time we could also smell the burning smell in the flight deck as well. She then stated that the odor was getting stronger and beginning to fill the cabin. I asked the Flight Attendant if there was any visible smoke and or any visible flames. She replied no; there were no visible flames or smoke; but stated the odor was getting stronger. While the Check Airman communicated with the Flight Attendant I informed Center of our situation and declared an emergency and asked for a vector to the nearest airport which was ZZZ. At that point the Check Airman informed the Flight Attendant that we were diverting to ZZZ and we would be on the ground within 10 minutes with a yellow situation. He assumed control of the aircraft and became the Pilot Flying and asked me to coordinate with Center and complete the appropriate checklists. I completed the appropriate checklists and coordinated vectors for the ILS to ZZZ. We landed at ZZZ and taxied to the gate with an ARFF escort. We parked at the terminal; shut down the plane and removed the passengers via the airstairs (normal landing) to the main terminal and allowed ARFF to check the inside and outside of the aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.