Date: 201907
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: B757-200
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: VHF
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: We were cleared for takeoff on RWY XXL. With a clearance for a right turn [on course]. The tower handed us off to Departure and the last transmitted clearance we heard was for another right turn heading. We could not hear; nor could we transmit on the last assigned and guard frequency. To avoid penetrating into any other airport's airspace from the last assigned heading; we decided to turn towards [an open area] to troubleshoot. We were squawking 7600 on the transponder. For a brief moment; we were able to hear TRACON on guard frequency. The controller told us to climb to 10;000 ft. Initially started to climb to 10;000 ft. The Captain for a brief moment was able to transmit on guard frequency advising the controller of the radio failure; at which the controller told us to descend to 3000 feet and that we were cleared for the approach into ZZZ for RWY XXR. Again; we were not able to further communicate with ATC and came in for an overweight landing on RWY XXR. After vacating the runway; we were met by emergency vehicles and called our company operations via cell phone and requested they send a follow-me car so that we could head back to our ramp. Upon; returning to the gate; aircraft maintenance discovered there was an internal failure that caused both VHF radios to become inoperative. The maintenance supervisor confirmed that it was not a 'stuck' or 'hot' mike. When we returned to the gate; aircraft maintenance advised there was an internal failure that caused both VHF radios to become inoperative. Research the maintenance records; failure modes; and history of the installed equipment.


Second narrative: During execution of ZZZ departure from RWY XXL all VHF communication was lost. Last contact was brief check in with Departure. Code 7600 was set in mode 3 and we attempted to establish communication with ATC. Approximately 3 minutes later Center came through on VHF 2 121.5. After a short explanation of our situation we were cleared for a visual approach to RWY XXR at ZZZ. Communication was again lost. An uneventful approach and overweight landing was landing was accomplished and code 7700 was now set in mode 3. A follow me truck guided us back to gate. VHF 1 malfunction affecting all 3 VHF radios.


Synopsis: B757 flight crew reported VHF 1 malfunctioning on departure and returning to land.