B737-800 flight crew reported a burning odor during departure climb that was followed shortly by the A Flight Attendant's report of smoke in the passenger cabin. Flight crew requested and was granted priority handling for an airborne return which concluded in a safe landing and taxi to the gate. Maintenance provided at gate.
Synopsis
B737-800 flight crew reported a burning odor during departure climb that was followed shortly by the A Flight Attendant's report of smoke in the passenger cabin. Flight crew requested and was granted priority handling for an airborne return which concluded in a safe landing and taxi to the gate. Maintenance provided at gate.
Narrative
After takeoff from ZZZ while climbing through 11;000 ft MSL; the First Officer and I smelled smoke and noticed a smoky haze in the cockpit. We then received a call from the A-Flight Attendant who said there was smoke in the cabin. We leveled off at 14;000 ft and [requested priority handling] with Center and received vectors back to ZZZ. I asked the First Officer to run the Smoke; Fire or Fumes Non-normal checklist while I flew the aircraft; talked to ATC and text messaged Dispatch through ACARS. After we turned off the galley power switches; the smoke seemed to dissipate. I asked ATC to have the Fire Department standing by upon arrival. While being vectored for the ILS to Runway XXR I checked in with the Flight Attendants to verify that the smoke was dissipating in the cabin and they assured me it was. We landed uneventfully. After landing I checked with the Flight Attendants again and asked if they saw any reason to evacuate; they said no; the smoke was almost gone. We decided to taxi to the gate where we deplaned and called Dispatch and Maintenance. We were unable to determine the source of the smoke.
Second reporter narrative
After climbing through 10;000 ft; best guess around 12;000 ft to 13;000 ft both the Captain and I simultaneously sensed a burning smell. It seemed like the Flight Attendants in the cabin sensed the burning smell at the same time that the Captain I did. We stopped our climb; [requested priority handling]; and asked ATC for vectors back to ZZZ. We ran the checklist for Fire Smoke and Fumes in the cockpit and then the Smoke Fumes Evacuation Checklist. We handled the aircraft and checklist efficiently and got the aircraft set up for vectors to the ILS [Runway] XXR at ZZZ. We were in communication with the Flight Attendants and the Passengers to come back to ZZZ. We had Fire and Rescue trucks waiting for us at the arrival end of XXR. After landing the aircraft; we determined it was safe to taxi to the gate and further assess the situation there. We got to the gate and then de-planed the passengers with no further event.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.