Narrative:

Aircraft X requested to turn back to their departure airport due to a problem. The aircraft stated they had engine problems and an issue maintaining airspeed. They requested specific routing back to the airport but the requested route probed a conflict with a active airspace warning area. As I amended the routing to evaluate alternatives; the aircraft also reported a descent to 19;000 ft. Reviewing the route options with my controller in charge (controller in charge); we determined direct zzzzz [fix] direct ZZZZZ1 [fix] was the most direct route back. However; this also conflicted with another active airspace. The urgency of the pilot action descending and requesting the turn around necessitated a clearance. Despite the active airspace; the routing appeared to be the best for the aircraft and was issued. As additional information was being gathered regarding the situation; the cics were briefing for shift change. It is my understanding that the conflict with airspace was briefed to the incoming controller in charge. Several minutes later; I was briefing the next controller and realized I had not received any further input on the routing. I asked the new controller in charge if the emergency and airspace conflict had been coordinated. They then contacted out omic and tmu to coordinate with aircraft within airspace.at this time aircraft X was at least 20 (possibly 50) minutes from the airspace boundary.I was advised to submit this report over concern for a potential airspace violation. However; appears that the controller taking over; omic; and cic correctly continued coordination after I and the previous controller in charge were off duty. Aircraft X did fly through a corner of airspace but was given frequencies for broadcasting to aircraft in the airspace as well as coordination done by management and tmu. Obviously decision making time is limited with an aircraft in distress but I do not feel that the routing was inappropriate given the circumstances and multiple potential airspace conflicts. The only recommendations would be improved coordination between controllers; supervisors; and operations managers. This occurred during a shift change and coordination was slowed as a result.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Center Controller reported vectoring an aircraft through a warning area during a diversion.

Narrative: Aircraft X requested to turn back to their departure airport due to a problem. The aircraft stated they had engine problems and an issue maintaining airspeed. They requested specific routing back to the airport but the requested route probed a conflict with a active airspace Warning Area. As I amended the routing to evaluate alternatives; the aircraft also reported a descent to 19;000 ft. Reviewing the route options with my CIC (Controller in Charge); we determined direct ZZZZZ [fix] direct ZZZZZ1 [fix] was the most direct route back. However; this also conflicted with another active airspace. The urgency of the pilot action descending and requesting the turn around necessitated a clearance. Despite the active airspace; the routing appeared to be the best for the aircraft and was issued. As additional information was being gathered regarding the situation; the CICs were briefing for shift change. It is my understanding that the conflict with airspace was briefed to the incoming CIC. Several minutes later; I was briefing the next controller and realized I had not received any further input on the routing. I asked the new CIC if the emergency and airspace conflict had been coordinated. They then contacted out OMIC and TMU to coordinate with aircraft within airspace.At this time Aircraft X was at least 20 (possibly 50) minutes from the airspace boundary.I was advised to submit this report over concern for a potential airspace violation. However; appears that the controller taking over; omic; and cic correctly continued coordination after I and the previous CIC were off duty. Aircraft X did fly through a corner of airspace but was given frequencies for broadcasting to aircraft in the airspace as well as coordination done by management and TMU. Obviously decision making time is limited with an aircraft in distress but I do not feel that the routing was inappropriate given the circumstances and multiple potential airspace conflicts. The only recommendations would be improved coordination between Controllers; Supervisors; and Operations Managers. This occurred during a shift change and coordination was slowed as a result.

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.