Air carrier flight crew reported an 'crew rest smoke' EICAS message during initial climb. The flight crew was provided priority handling for an air return where a safe landing was executed.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported an 'crew rest smoke' EICAS message during initial climb. The flight crew was provided priority handling for an air return where a safe landing was executed.
Narrative
The FO (First Officer) was pilot flying this leg and I was pilot monitoring. We started the day with a need to de ice the aircraft due to snow the previous night. After completing de ice procedure per our manual; we received IFR clearance to destination. We then received taxi clearance to runway XXL in ZZZZ. We were third in line for take off. We were then cleared for take off and upon climbing out of 800ft; I noticed EICAS message crew rest smoke". I quickly looked back to see if I could see smoke and it appeared to be hazy smoke coming from the crew rest area. I commanded don oxygen masks and [requested priority handling] with ZZZZ tower. Upon passing 1000ft; the master caution illuminate and associated bell rang. I cancelled it after calling it out. We then started getting vectored back to ZZZZ for the ILS runway XYR. I sent dispatch a message notifying them of the incident and return. I loaded the approach and sent for flight deck performance for landing. We were not over weight and did not need to dump fuel. When cleared to descend from 5;0000ft to 3;0000ft; the EICAS "crew rest smoke" went out at about 3;500ft. When switched to tower; I notified them that we would no longer need fire trucks to meet at the runway and instead meet at the gate to ensure no fire was present. The fire department gave us the all clear. The aircraft had multiple writes up for crew rest smoke and unable to maintain preselected temperature in crew rest area. The smoke smell did not smell like an electrical fire. One of the ZZZZ safety officials even stated that they could smell something in the air about 2hrs after shutdown. I think the FO and I handled the no time incident well. Throughout the whole process; I would ask if he was comfortable with what our current plan was and if he had any other inputs. During this no time events having clear communications between the crew seemed to help us land in a safe and expeditious manner."
Second reporter narrative
We blocked out at XA25 and decided wheels up at XB36 we took of runway XXL and after passing 800 feet we got a EICAS message Crew Rest Smoke. After passing 1000 feet the captain informed me that there was haze (smoke) in the upper deck. At 5000 feet per the Sid we leveled off; donned oxygen masks and captain informed ZZZZ departure [requesting priority handling]. We determined we needed an immediate return to ZZZZ. The Master Caution also went off; the EICAS remained on for approximately Five minutes and went away after we started our decent into ZZZZ during this time I was pilot flying and captain was monitoring. Between 5000 to 3000 the message disappeared. We had already requested fire equipment to assist us at the gate. When we returned to the ramp the only detectable evidence was a lingering smell of a Smokey nature. Repeat incident from something. Wish I would have been faster at donning my mask.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.