Narrative:

During the initial descent at approximately FL280 the mid cabin galley flight attendant called the cockpit to report some smoke and an electrical burning smell in the mid galley area. The captain turned off the utility bus switches and sent the relief first officer back to check the galley. He then instructed me; the pilot flying; to take over ATC communications and begin searching for a place to land in case of fire. ZZZ1 and ZZZ2 were each about 50 DME away and I could see them both so I knew we had weather to make a landing if necessary. The captain then went through the smoke and fumes checklist with the relief first officer who had returned to the cockpit. They sent dispatch a message on our situation. We requested and received direct ZZZ3 and also requested to land to the south to expedite our arrival. ATC requested fuel and souls on board and they declared the emergency for us as we were still running checklists and didn't know for sure what we had yet. Approach cleared us for the visual runway 19L ILS OTS; speed of our choice. The turn on to final and the remainder of the approach were normal and the fire trucks met us clearing the runway. After performing their checks we were released to the gate and deplaned normally. Maintenance and the fire crew were on the jetway and inspected the aircraft once the passengers were off the plane.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 flight crew is informed of electrical fumes and smoke in the mid galley about 200 NM from destination. Smoke and fumes abate after utility buses are turned off and flight continues to destination.

Narrative: During the initial descent at approximately FL280 the mid cabin galley Flight Attendant called the cockpit to report some smoke and an electrical burning smell in the mid galley area. The Captain turned off the utility bus switches and sent the relief First Officer back to check the galley. He then instructed me; the pilot flying; to take over ATC communications and begin searching for a place to land in case of fire. ZZZ1 and ZZZ2 were each about 50 DME away and I could see them both so I knew we had weather to make a landing if necessary. The Captain then went through the smoke and fumes checklist with the relief First Officer who had returned to the cockpit. They sent dispatch a message on our situation. We requested and received direct ZZZ3 and also requested to land to the south to expedite our arrival. ATC requested fuel and souls on board and they declared the emergency for us as we were still running checklists and didn't know for sure what we had yet. Approach cleared us for the visual Runway 19L ILS OTS; speed of our choice. The turn on to final and the remainder of the approach were normal and the fire trucks met us clearing the runway. After performing their checks we were released to the gate and deplaned normally. Maintenance and the fire crew were on the jetway and inspected the aircraft once the passengers were off the plane.

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.