Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 7.5
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
I sat down next to the controller working SDWR (west) radar to assist them with a few coordinations. The sector wasn't busy but coordinations with approach (for handoffs) and ATCT (for opposite direction arrivals) would have added to the complexity. I noticed that an IFR Aircraft X talking to SEE ATCT was turning away from the airport and the final approach course northeast to a higher MVA. The aircrafts lowest indicated altitude was 2;400 ft. and the MVA in the area is 4;200 ft. and 3;300ft. I quickly called SEE to see if the pilot was okay. They responded that she was having issues and they were correcting her. The weather was broken at 3;300 ft. with few clouds at 2;400ft. The tower called me back asking if we could take the aircraft back. I asked if the aircraft was VFR or IFR. They stated IFR and I had them issue her a 270 heading and a climb to 6;000 ft. By the time the tower switched her back to us; the aircraft was westbound safely above the MVA.Since she needed special handling; I asked SDMR (Miramar) radar to work the aircraft back in and she landed safely. I truthfully never considered this to be a pilot deviation. And since the tower was talking to her at the low altitude; I knew they were handling the low altitude alert; getting her back on course and trying to see if she could cancel IFR. Only when the tower advised me she was IFR and needed to come back to us; did I consider her a special priority case. But also with my years of experience; I assumed she was a low hour IFR pilot that needed special handling.I didn't tell the OM immediately about the event because she was with the tower when she was at a low altitude and I knew they were handling the situation and would be filling out the appropriate paperwork on their end. Only a little bit later did I think; I should probably have the OM watch the replay and if anything; it may be declared an priority handling. The OM advised me it should have been a pilot deviation; but I still don't understand why a disoriented pilot would get a brasher. In the future; I won't assume the classification of an event; I'll ask the OM for their guidance.
A TRACON Controller reported they observed an aircraft talking to a Tower deviate from the final approach course and fly below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude but did not report it to the Operations Manager.