B737-700
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Type 15000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
While climbing through 9;000 ft. MSL out of ZZZ; we experienced two VERY loud bangs from the #2 engine. We immediately suspected a compressor stall. Scanning the engines; I noticed the #2 engine decreasing in RPM. I immediately pulled the #2 engine to idle and it stabilized there. We coordinated a level-off at 9000 ft. with ZZZ Departure and flew an extended downwind. We ran all appropriate checklists and determined that the engine appeared to be performing normally. Following the checklist; we pushed the power up on the effected engine to approximately 80% with no adverse indications; there was no need to push it up any further. No [priority handling was requested] and we elected to return to ZZZ and fly a flaps 15 approach and landing to Runway 28R. Flight Attendants and Passengers were advised of the situation. After all checklist items were complete; we accomplished an uneventful approach and landing. Weight or brake energy was not a factor.
Departed [runway] XXR; from ZZZ; radar vectors made a turn to south-southeast; passing through MSL 8;000 ft. deleted thrust reduction at Captain's request; and around MSL 8;500 ft. two loud bangs came from #2 engine followed by vibrations. Contacted ATC; leveled off at MSL 9;000 ft.; and ran QRC 'Engine Surge or Stall' followed by the QRH as directed. Engine seemed to run normally after checklist. We returned to ZZZ.
B737 flight crew reported compressor stalls during climb and elected to return to the departure airport.