En route controller provided emergency handling to an aircraft experiencing equipment difficulties.

Narrative:

Aircraft X was at 35;000 ft on the track out of zzzzz [intersection]. As the aircraft was entering center's airspace; the aircraft stated that due to aircraft maintenance it was turning around. I confirmed this with the aircraft via phone patch. I then treated the aircraft as an emergency. The aircraft was cleared to descend to 34;500 ft and was told upon reaching 34;500 ft; then cleared right turned direct zznzzw; further routing to follow.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: En route Controller provided emergency handling to an aircraft experiencing equipment difficulties.

Narrative: Aircraft X was at 35;000 FT on the track out of ZZZZZ [Intersection]. As the aircraft was entering Center's airspace; the aircraft stated that due to aircraft maintenance it was turning around. I confirmed this with the aircraft via phone patch. I then treated the aircraft as an emergency. The aircraft was cleared to descend to 34;500 FT and was told upon reaching 34;500 FT; then cleared right turned direct ZZnZZw; further routing to follow.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1016542
Time
Date	201206
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical