Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was working an A320 a departure off of Runway XX and RADAR identified the aircraft and climbed to 15;000 MSL. Pilot reached 3;000 MSL and advised that he wanted to level off. Asked if he needed assistance and he said no that they were checking a landing gear problem. I then asked if he could accept a climb to 5;000 MSL for MVA and airspace integrity. He said that he could climb. After a few seconds he advised that he wanted to return to [the airport]. My Coordinator was listening to the frequency and started to coordinate his return to the airport. We were in a southeast configuration so the best path to return to the airport was not clear but I turned aircraft back to the airport on a heading of 310. Then the A320 advised that he needed to return to the airport immediately and get down. I asked the A320 if he had the airport in sight; and he confirmed that he did. My Coordinator had already advised the surrounding sectors of the emergency and they cancelled approaches and emptied the final because we were going to be opposite direction. I cleared the A320 for the visual approach to Runway 29. He acknowledged the clearance and advised that he needed to make a maneuver to stabilize the aircraft. I then noticed a target coming off of the airport. The Tower was unable to stop the departure of a B737. I needed communications with that aircraft to move him out of the way. My Coordinator was on the line with the Tower trying to get communications and also issue the heading that I wanted him on of 090 which would have pulled the B737 away from the emergency aircraft. I was delayed in receiving the B737 but I radar identified him and immediately turned him to heading 070 with an expedited climb to 15;000 MSL and called the traffic. The B737 reported the A320 in sight; but standard separation was already lost. This was an emergency situation that escalated quickly. I do not know how the situation could have been prevented or handled differently.
TRACON Controller described an emergency event when a departure requested an immediate return to the airport opposite direct to the flow of traffic; the Tower then released an opposite direction aircraft.