Narrative:

On flap retraction after takeoff; a grinding noise was heard. A passenger seated near right wing observed a section of the inboard slat was missing and reported it to the crew. I sent the cockpit observer back to check it out. He returned with a digital camera picture of the slat. I contacted maintenance through dispatch and he recommended a return to ord. We also had an elevator feel maintenance message displayed. We returned to ord for a normal approach and landing. The aircraft was taken OTS.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLT CREW HAS A PORTION OF THE LEADING SLAT DEPART THE ACFT.

Narrative: ON FLAP RETRACTION AFTER TKOF; A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. A PAX SEATED NEAR R WING OBSERVED A SECTION OF THE INBOARD SLAT WAS MISSING AND RPTED IT TO THE CREW. I SENT THE COCKPIT OBSERVER BACK TO CHK IT OUT. HE RETURNED WITH A DIGITAL CAMERA PICTURE OF THE SLAT. I CONTACTED MAINT THROUGH DISPATCH AND HE RECOMMENDED A RETURN TO ORD. WE ALSO HAD AN ELEVATOR FEEL MAINT MESSAGE DISPLAYED. WE RETURNED TO ORD FOR A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG. THE ACFT WAS TAKEN OTS.

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.