During flight, the pilot smells an electrical/burning odor and notices smoke from the panel. The appropriate immediate action is to

Choices

• ignore it if instruments still work.

  Ignoring smoke risks in-flight fire.

• ✓ turn the master switch OFF, isolate the source if possible.correct

  individual breakers/switches), open vents, and prepare to land at the nearest suitable airport. Electrical fire response: isolate by removing all electrical power (master OFF), open vents to clear smoke, attempt to identify source by sequentially re-energizing items if needed (only after fire is out), and land at the nearest suitable airport. Electrical fires can rapidly become uncontrollable in flight; remove the energy source first.

• increase electrical load to identify the failed component.

  More load to a faulted system risks accelerating the fire.

• continue the flight to the original destination.

  Continuing past the nearest suitable airport is unsafe with a possible electrical fire.