DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Dispatch Dispatcher
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Received in flight engine failure report. I was about to query crew with regards to it and concluded not to as they were under 15k ft with their tag changing back to [departure airport]. Upon receiving the engine failure message; I informed the [appropriate managers]. Due to the low alt; I asked the ATC coordinator to call ATC and inquire about an emergency being declared.  None was declared. [About ten minutes later] crew sent ACARS 'rtb eng fail.' Due to them being under 10k ft; I acknowledged the message and asked them to give me a call upon block in. After landing; I overheard on the radio that the crew thought they had 'compressor stalls and thought they were throwing some blades.' Crew did not declare an emergency; but [airport] fire department sent trucks anyway. Awaiting call from crew for further details.[About an hour later] Captain called with details. Climbing through FL260 the airplane began to vibrate. Completed compressor stall QRH as number 3 engine ceased vibrating when throttle at idle. Engine was not shut down until landed. Confirmed that emergency was not declared by crew even though trucks were rolled by airport ops. Crew had dumped 6k of fuel.
Air carrier Dispatcher reported an aircraft he was monitoring experienced an engine problem and returned to the departure airport.