Air carrier flight crew reported on initial climb out they had a medical emergency and requested a return to the airport. As they expedited their return; they were not stabilized on the approach.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported on initial climb out they had a medical emergency and requested a return to the airport. As they expedited their return; they were not stabilized on the approach.
Narrative
On climbout we had a inflight medical emergency; a passenger was having seizures; foaming at the mouth and was not conscious. We [advised ATC ] and exercised our authority to expedite our return to Chicago ORD. From the time we got the call to over the threshold was a very quick experience. We got the visual approach to 27C in ORD loaded; briefed; descent checklist completed; and landing data setup. ATC asked if we were ready to turn base and the FO said he was ready. I had been flying with him for the last two days; so I was confident in his abilities. We accepted to the short base turn to final and the FO started to slow and configure the aircraft. The first thing that caught my attention was the FO bugged 2;200 feet in the altitude selection. While that is the FAF altitude; that wouldn't be normal for Chicago. We got established on the visual approach; and into green needles. All seemed normal at this point and I called the FA to get a quick update on the passenger. I was informed he was still 'out'; I said OK we're going to be on the ground very soon and paramedics are going to meet us at the gate. The FO called for gear down flaps 30 and I configured the aircraft as requested. I noticed the boards were still deployed; we got those retracted. I don't remember what speed we were at but I happened to look at the radar altimeter and it was 900 something. I said hey we're not fully configured and the FO said something along the lines of I'm trying to keep the speed up. I told him to slow and we put flaps 45 in. I made the decision to continue the approach due to the unconscious passenger and the aircraft being in a safe position to land.Cause:I believe the main factor was the confusion in how fast to fly and for how long. This was not briefed and a failure on my part. The FO and I had the best intentions on helping the passenger. After landing and discussing the event; I found out my FO used to fly medical flights and was not uncommon to slow extremely late. After learning this knowledge I believe my FO felt he was doing the right thing. My choice to call the Flight Attendant late while in a critical phase was also a mistake that lead to my attention to lapse. Although most of the conversion between myself and the FA was below 18;000 ft just by nature of the emergency.Suggestions:I would have stopped him from bugging 2;200. Instead I would have had him bug 4;000 like normal for Chicago. I believe when we crossed the FAF at 2200 and caught the glide slope; I lost situational awareness and believed we were at 4;000 at JMBBO. Calling the flight attendant late was not required and only added to me not noticing the FO was choosing to not slow.
Second reporter narrative
PM Duties.Passenger had a seizure; CA made the decision to turn back to ORD requesting 27C.Once received the flight controls stated that I was going to fly a High speed profile as the gathered information we had from the FA's (flight attendant) was that passenger seemed very Ill and passed out.Received vectors and altitude clearances from ATC accordingly; briefed and joined the LOC at high speed; I stated that I was going to keep the speed up and delay configuration which I did; but ended putting flaps 45 at 1;000 AGL resulting in a late configuration. CA was super busy getting the 2 in 2 out information so he might have not processed well my intention of keeping speed up; precluding him to preventing me or queuing me to configure sooner.Cause:Rush from an ill passenger emergency; misinterpretation of emergency authority.Suggestions:Illustrate Crews on CA emergency Authority do and dont's.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.