Narrative:

At FL280; we encountered an emergency that involved us diverting to a nearby airport due to smoke in the flight deck. An emergency was declared but in case we deviated from altitude before clearance was given; I am writing this report. I do not believe that any deviations occurred; but a lot of things happened very quickly. We asked for lower immediately and they gave us FL240 and subsequently FL200. It was at the initial altitude descent that we may have left altitude before the clearance. At any rate; the flight was being diverted in the interest of safety.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E145 FLT CREW DECLARES EMER AND MAKES EARLY DSCNT DUE TO SMOKE IN COCKPIT.

Narrative: AT FL280; WE ENCOUNTERED AN EMER THAT INVOLVED US DIVERTING TO A NEARBY ARPT DUE TO SMOKE IN THE FLT DECK. AN EMER WAS DECLARED BUT IN CASE WE DEVIATED FROM ALT BEFORE CLRNC WAS GIVEN; I AM WRITING THIS RPT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY DEVS OCCURRED; BUT A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. WE ASKED FOR LOWER IMMEDIATELY AND THEY GAVE US FL240 AND SUBSEQUENTLY FL200. IT WAS AT THE INITIAL ALT DSCNT THAT WE MAY HAVE LEFT ALT BEFORE THE CLRNC. AT ANY RATE; THE FLT WAS BEING DIVERTED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY.

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.