MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Aircraft; Human Factors
Slat disagree alert on turn to final; executed a [missed approach]. Requested a heading on missed approach multiple times with ATC due to flight control malfunction. Due to communication problems with ATC; I think they did not understand what or why we were requesting a heading. We elected to keep the turns to a minimum until we could clean up the aircraft; due to the airspeed tape foot and top fluctuating severely. Complied with the [missed approach] procedure to the best we could and finally ATC gave us a heading and altitude. Elected to return to [departure airport] due to 33 knot crosswind at [destination airport]. Executed a flaps 28 landing. Landed uneventfully.
MD-11 First Officer reported returning to the departure airport after experiencing a leading edge slat issue.