Enroute controller described an airspace incursion event when an air carrier on frequency declared a...

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.

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.

Attributes
ACN	912584
Time
Date	201010
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Embraer Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types

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.