B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft
On initial climb out other [flight crews] could see vapor or fluid coming from left wing area. We were unable to determine what fluid this was or whether it was continuing. So; we decided to make a precautionary landing. We had to orbit the area to burn fuel down to reach our max landing weight. This took approximately 30 minutes. Fuel seemed to burning down normally; though we did extend gear and flaps to keep speed low and fuel flow high; to expedite to landing weight. We had approximately the following fuel load on landing: Left tank-14.3 Right tank-14.7 Center tank-3.5. I did ask for the fire trucks at the runway; as a precaution. We landed which was uneventful. After rollout we cleared the runway and I set the parking brake. I had the fire crew do an inspection of the left wing. They stated that there was fuel coming from the left wing area. I then started the APU and shut both motors down. I also shut the fuel boost pumps off. This seemed to slow the leak to just a few drops. I then asked to be tugged back to the ramp.
B757 Captain is informed of vapor or fluid coming of the left wing after takeoff by observers on the ground. The crew elects to return after burning fuel down to maximum landing weight. ARFF reports a fuel leak after landing.