B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 208; Flight Crew Type 1479
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During climb Purser called flight deck reporting that FAs (Flight Attendants) in aft galley were experiencing strong electrical burning smell and had the halon extinguisher out and wanted to return to field. FA came back on inter phone and said the smell was very strong and wanted to land. No smoke; fire; or other indications of fire were observed. FO (First Officer) was pilot flying. We coordinated with ATC for level off and the return to ZZZ. Notified dispatch via ACARS of problem; intent to return. Began Smoke; Fumes; Odor checklist.Purser called from aft galley to report that the smell had rapidly dissipated. This was before the checklist portion that isolates electric and air conditioning. Checklist completed. Continued to coordinate with ATC for return. Verified overweight landing. Requested rwy XXR; longest runway. Set up FMC and radios for iOS XXR. Performed descent checklist. Landing uneventful. Taxi to gate uneventful. Made log entry for overweight landing. MX met flight at gate. MX had made the decision to keep pax on plane; and instructed customer service to do so. I asked station to deplane passengers. Called dispatch to report our status. Called [Operations] for briefing/ debriefing. MX discovered that an FA in the aft jumpseat had a phone charger plugged into an outlet by door 2R. MX reported that the lower receptacle was hotter than the upper; the one the FA was using; and that it showed signs of arcing. MX began taking parts off of the jet for another plane that was having difficulties. We elected not to stay with the flight as the departure time was uncertain.
On departure at 12;000 feet the FAs (Flight Attendants) called with fire extinguisher and PBE in hand. Strong electrical smell in aft galley area. They demanded immediate return to airport. I was pilot flying so I just understood the gist of it. I leveled off and slowed down the aircraft. We declared emergency and ran checklist and returned to ZZZ without further incident. We landed overweight.
B737-800 flight crew reported an electrical burning smell from the cabin and returned to departure airport.