Medium Large Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 11
Confusion; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft
Aircraft X departed Airport ZZZ climbing to FL230 per LOA.  I climbed the aircraft to FL260 and he requested to stay at FL230.  I advised him to let me know when he wanted to climb; called approach and told him he would be leveling off.  Shortly after he requested to return to ZZZ I asked if he had an emergency and he said no.  I told him to stand by and called Approach because he was still in their airspace to coordinate direct ZZZ.  While on the line the aircraft started a left turn and decent.  I told the other  controller I would call him back on what was going on.  I told Aircraft X that he did not have a clearance to turn and to state the nature of his [situation].  He said flaps.  The aircraft was cleared direct ZZZ and descended to 140 with a [local] altimeter.  The aircraft requested an initial heading; and I issued 075.  The pilot voice sounded very shaky. The aircraft was not able to be handed off to approach; and when I tried to coordinate if Approach had Radar they said just ship him.  I shipped the aircraft to [frequency] and he took it. Approach had called to talk to him again.  I tried the aircraft and he was still on my frequency so I issued [frequency] again.  At the time the controller working the airspace adjacent to me was doing the coordination with approach.No recommendations specifically; except automation was a problem that might need to be looked at.  A reroute to ZZZ did not work.  A reroute to ZZZ and a hard altitude of 140 did not work and the RF command did not work to hand off the aircraft.
Center Controller reports of an aircraft returning to departure airport; which could not be handed off to Approach automatically; and had to be handed off manually.