Fedex flight 7145, an F-27-500, N715FE, operated by Mountain Air Cargo, Inc., departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, for Porto Alegre, Brazil, at approximately 0450Z on 4-27-04. About 45 minutes into the flight while in cruise at 17,000 feet, the flight crew received information about an onboard fire. The jumpseater, who was also a company F-27 captain, went to the rear of the airplane and reported fire toward the rear of the cargo compartment. The flight crew declared an emergency and requested vectors to the nearest airport. Air traffic control suggested Montevideo, Uruguay, which was 92 miles away, but the flight crew requested a closer airport.

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