Narrative:

The aircraft checked on my frequency declaring a medical emergency; stating he needed to land at the nearest airport. The aircraft was at 11;000 ft; about 5 miles from my sector boundary; in another controller's sector. I told him that an airport was at his 1 o'clock and 30 miles. I cleared him direct to the airport and gave him a discretionary descent to 4;000 ft. I spoke to my d-side and supervisor and then called the other controller to give the point out. By the time I spoke to the other controller; the aircraft was already out of 10;700; so; I had an airspace deviation. I knew when I gave him discretion to to 4;000 ft; that he wasn't quite in my airspace; but I felt at the time that his descent was more important than a possible airspace deviation. I looked for 'limited data blocks' (ldb's); and issued the descent.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described an airspace incursion event when an Air Carrier on frequency declared a Medical Emergency; was issued a descent to accommodate a diversion airport landing and entered airspace without clearance.

Narrative: The aircraft checked on my frequency declaring a medical emergency; stating he needed to land at the nearest airport. The aircraft was at 11;000 FT; about 5 miles from my sector boundary; in another Controller's sector. I told him that an airport was at his 1 o'clock and 30 miles. I cleared him direct to the airport and gave him a discretionary descent to 4;000 FT. I spoke to my D-Side and Supervisor and then called the other Controller to give the point out. By the time I spoke to the other Controller; the aircraft was already out of 10;700; so; I had an airspace deviation. I knew when I gave him discretion to to 4;000 FT; that he wasn't quite in my airspace; but I felt at the time that his descent was more important than a possible airspace deviation. I looked for 'Limited Data Blocks' (LDB's); and issued the descent.

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.