ZAU controller failed to comply with standard operating procedures when descending an aircraft witho...

Narrative:

Aircraft X level at FL270 and southeast bound declared that something was hot and needed to divert to any nearby airport and needed to descend. I suggested an airport at one o'clock and 35 miles and the pilot agreed that it would work. Aircraft X began a descent without a clearance to do so. Air carrier Y was 20 NM opposite direction at FL260 and in ZID's airspace head-on. I turned aircraft X first to a 220 heading and then 250 heading. I turned air carrier Y to a 050 heading and then to 070. I did not have control to turn air carrier Y with ZID but I did it to avoid a very unsafe situation. Standard separation was maintained. Aircraft X landed safely at the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAU Controller failed to comply with standard operating procedures when descending an aircraft without coordination to accommodate an emergency aircraft beginning an uncoordinated descent.

Narrative: Aircraft X level at FL270 and southeast bound declared that something was hot and needed to divert to any nearby airport and needed to descend. I suggested an airport at one o'clock and 35 miles and the pilot agreed that it would work. Aircraft X began a descent without a clearance to do so. Air Carrier Y was 20 NM opposite direction at FL260 and in ZID's airspace head-on. I turned Aircraft X first to a 220 heading and then 250 heading. I turned Air Carrier Y to a 050 heading and then to 070. I did not have control to turn Air Carrier Y with ZID but I did it to avoid a very unsafe situation. Standard separation was maintained. Aircraft X landed safely at the airport.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	895867
Time
Date	201006
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZAU.ARTCC
State Reference	IL
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

ZAU controller failed to comply with standard operating procedures when descending an aircraft without coordination to accommodate an emergency aircraft beginning an uncoordinated descent.