B767-300 and 300 ER
Dispatch Dispatcher
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Company Policy
I received a diversion message sent from crew stating: 'Equipment Cooling - returning to departure airport.' I sent a message advising receipt; further advising I had received no ACARS position report. The crew acknowledged my response and I sent out a company message noting the diversion and destination.I then called the Tower to check on the flight. I asked if the flight was dumping fuel and the Controller told me no; that at approximately 50 NM out the crew requested to return. Controller told me the crew reported a minor problem with the aircraft and that the crew did not declare an emergency. I informed Controller that we have an Equipment Cooling issue. The Controller informed me the flight had just touched down. An ACARS message from the crew confirmed the overweight landing and that an emergency was not declared with ATC.Be more mindful that; in the event of an overweight landing; policy states an emergency must be declared.
A Dispatcher reported one of his international flights returned to their departure airport and landed overweight due to an equipment cooling anomaly. He cited their failure to declare an emergency as the factor requiring a report to be made.