Narrative:

Crew notified me at local time; flight ZZZ to ZZZ1 while off the gate and reported that they had a number 2 engine control light illuminated. Crew informed me that they probably had to return to the gate and could not go. I reported that they did not; under MEL 73-11-1(C); and to place both electronic engine controls (eec) in the altn mode. I was under the thought that they were talking about the eec normal (on) mode. I asked if all was 'ok' in the altn mode and they reported 'yes'. When I was going to order my parts; I read the discrepancy again and I realized that I may have misunderstood them and spoke with my manager and the dispatcher and explained the situation. We contacted them on commercial radio and asked if the light was still illuminated after the deferral and prior to takeoff. They reported that it was and extinguished just prior to lift-off which is normally the way this system works. I then knew that I was indeed wrong and misunderstood the crew. I then made arrangements for the B737-700 aircraft to be brought to (ZZZ2) for repairs.I can only say that I wish the crew was more assertive and adamant in their thinking that they had to return; according to the note in the MEL; and maybe things would have come together and I would have realized my misunderstanding at that point and just dispatched maintenance; as is proper procedure. I know that the aircraft cannot go with those lights illuminated; as I dealt with these types of discrepancies for almost 12 years and I am quite familiar with these aircraft systems. This was just one time I thought different and no one contested me. I am not placing blame but no one else caught it either except for me; after reviewing my work which is also a policy of my own each day throughout the day.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Maintenance Controller reports how miscommunication and misunderstanding between himself and a B737-700 flight crew led to a takeoff departure with both Engine Electronic Controls (EEC) in the Alternate Mode. Number 2 Engine Control Light had illuminated after pushback.

Narrative: Crew notified me at local time; flight ZZZ to ZZZ1 while off the gate and reported that they had a Number 2 Engine Control Light illuminated. Crew informed me that they probably had to return to the gate and could not go. I reported that they did not; under MEL 73-11-1(C); and to place both Electronic Engine Controls (EEC) in the ALTN Mode. I was under the thought that they were talking about the EEC NORMAL (ON) MODE. I asked if all was 'OK' in the ALTN Mode and they reported 'Yes'. When I was going to order my parts; I read the discrepancy again and I realized that I may have misunderstood them and spoke with my Manager and the Dispatcher and explained the situation. We contacted them on Commercial Radio and asked if the light was still illuminated after the deferral and prior to takeoff. They reported that it was and extinguished just prior to lift-off which is normally the way this system works. I then knew that I was indeed wrong and misunderstood the crew. I then made arrangements for the B737-700 aircraft to be brought to (ZZZ2) for repairs.I can only say that I wish the crew was more assertive and adamant in their thinking that they had to return; according to the NOTE in the MEL; and maybe things would have come together and I would have realized my misunderstanding at that point and just dispatched Maintenance; as is proper procedure. I know that the aircraft cannot go with those lights illuminated; as I dealt with these types of discrepancies for almost 12 years and I am quite familiar with these aircraft systems. This was just one time I thought different and no one contested me. I am not placing blame but no one else caught it either except for me; after reviewing my work which is also a policy of my own each day throughout the day.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.