Date: 202105
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ1; Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Air Conditioning and Pressurization Pack
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Workload; Time Pressure
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Detector: Person Flight Crew; Person Passenger; Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: At 7;000 feet during climb the flight attendants called the flight deck and reported fumes and a smell in the cabin. Both flight attendants reported it and said multiple passengers were aware of it as well. I didn't smell anything in the flight deck. I might have gotten a slight acrid smell but now I'm not sure. I contacted ATC and requested to return to ZZZ and reported fumes in the cabin. They [gave us priority handling]. I sent an ACARS to Dispatch saying we were returning to ZZZ. I called the flight attendants and told them we were returning to ZZZ and would be on the ground in 15 minutes. First Officer was the pilot flying and setup for the approach. I briefed it for him. I pulled the QRH and looked at the fumes procedure. I turned off the recirculating fan and pushed in the dump button. I called the flight attendants again to confirm if they were still smelling the odor and they were. I asked if they saw anything. They started telling me about what they saw on the wings. I clarified my question. Did they see anything in the cabin? Smoke or other signs of heat / fire? They did not. On final to XXC we were number 2 to land when an aircraft reported a bird strike. Tower told the aircraft ahead of us to go around. I asked tower about the bird strike and they told me to expect a low approach. I made the decision to land despite the possibility of bird remains. I felt that was the safer course of action. First Officer agreed. We landed. I had instructed the flight attendants to inform me if the conditions worsened otherwise we would taxi to a gate. [Airport response] services followed us to the gate and inspected the interior with an infrared camera and didn't find any sources of heat. Due to no airflow onboard and the temperature rising in the cabin we deplaned. All passengers were grateful for a safe return.As a crew we worked together; kept each other calm and controlled. We communicated well and I'm grateful for the professionalism each member of the crew displayed to have a successful outcome to this event.




Synopsis: Captain reported a fume event during initial climb resulted in an air return.