Narrative:

I released [the flight]. I briefed the captain on the route; weather and circumstances for the flight. The flight departed at xa:17 and proceeded normally. At xa:54 I received an ACARS from the flight stating: 'engine fail ldg ZZZ'; I responded at xa:55 'copy engine fail returning ZZZ.'I received a satcom call with the captain and we discussed the situation. He told me that they heard a loud bang and vibration; the oil pressure went to zero and they were running the severe damage checklist. The crew was dumping fuel and the cockpit was very busy with the crew running procedures. I assured the captain that I would rerelease the flight and get him the landing numbers.the release was complete at xb:02. I transmitted the landing report with the go around information at xb:08. I then ran the numbers for the required landing distance and sent two messages to the crew:1) xb:12: required landing dist with one engine inoperative 20 degree flaps 4427 FT2) xb:14: one engine required landing dist with flaps 30 - 4002 ftthe flight was on at XB33 and in at xc:21. The times did not transmit. We had to confirm with ZZZ ops that the aircraft was on the ground. I sent a message to the crew at xb:37: 'plz send on/in times when able'. I knew the flight was on the ground but I was attempting to confirm the actual times. The crew never answered that ACARS message and they never confirmed that they received the landing distance information.I was relieved at xd:00 by the next dispatcher. I did not talk to the captain again.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The Dispatcher reported that he was unable to contact a flight returning to their departure airport after an engine failure.

Narrative: I released [the flight]. I briefed the captain on the route; weather and circumstances for the flight. The flight departed at XA:17 and proceeded normally. At XA:54 I received an ACARS from the flight stating: 'ENG FAIL LDG ZZZ'; I responded at XA:55 'COPY ENG FAIL RETURNING ZZZ.'I received a SATCOM call with the captain and we discussed the situation. He told me that they heard a loud bang and vibration; the oil pressure went to zero and they were running the severe damage checklist. The crew was dumping fuel and the cockpit was very busy with the crew running procedures. I assured the captain that I would rerelease the flight and get him the landing numbers.The release was complete at XB:02. I transmitted the Landing Report with the go around information at XB:08. I then ran the numbers for the required landing distance and sent two messages to the crew:1) XB:12: REQUIRED LANDING DIST WITH ONE ENG INOP 20 DEG FLAPS 4427 FT2) XB:14: ONE ENG REQUIRED LANDING DIST WITH FLAPS 30 - 4002 FTThe flight was ON at XB33 and IN at XC:21. The times did not transmit. We had to confirm with ZZZ ops that the aircraft was on the ground. I sent a message to the crew at XB:37: 'PLZ SEND ON/IN TIMES WHEN ABLE'. I knew the flight was on the ground but I was attempting to confirm the actual times. The crew never answered that ACARS message and they never confirmed that they received the landing distance information.I was relieved at XD:00 by the next dispatcher. I did not talk to the captain again.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.