Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Total 6151
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
We were cleared for takeoff on RWY XXL. With a clearance for a right turn [on course]. The tower handed us off to Departure and the last transmitted clearance we heard was for another right turn heading. We could not hear; nor could we transmit on the last assigned and guard frequency. To avoid penetrating into any other airport's airspace from the last assigned heading; we decided to turn towards [an open area] to troubleshoot. We were squawking 7600 on the transponder. For a brief moment; we were able to hear TRACON on guard frequency. The controller told us to climb to 10;000 ft. Initially started to climb to 10;000 ft. The Captain for a brief moment was able to transmit on guard frequency advising the controller of the radio failure; at which the controller told us to descend to 3000 feet and that we were cleared for the approach into ZZZ for RWY XXR. Again; we were not able to further communicate with ATC and came in for an overweight landing on RWY XXR. After vacating the runway; we were met by emergency vehicles and called our company operations via cell phone and requested they send a follow-me car so that we could head back to our ramp. Upon; returning to the gate; aircraft maintenance discovered there was an internal failure that caused both VHF radios to become inoperative. The maintenance supervisor confirmed that it was not a 'stuck' or 'hot' mike. When we returned to the gate; aircraft maintenance advised there was an internal failure that caused both VHF radios to become inoperative. Research the maintenance records; failure modes; and history of the installed equipment.
During execution of ZZZ departure from RWY XXL all VHF communication was lost. Last contact was brief check in with Departure. Code 7600 was set in mode 3 and we attempted to establish communication with ATC. Approximately 3 minutes later Center came through on VHF 2 121.5. After a short explanation of our situation we were cleared for a visual approach to RWY XXR at ZZZ. Communication was again lost. An uneventful approach and overweight landing was landing was accomplished and code 7700 was now set in mode 3. A follow me truck guided us back to gate. VHF 1 malfunction affecting all 3 VHF radios.
B757 flight crew reported VHF 1 malfunctioning on departure and returning to land.