VIDEO Pope Leon's plane got stuck on the runway with the sovereign pontiff in it. The King of Spain jumped to his aid
Pope Leo had to delay his return to Rome on Friday at the end of a week-long tour of Spain after his plane was unable to take off due to a technical problem, the Catholic News Agency and Reuters reported.
The plane carrying Leon, Vatican staff and journalists was preparing to taxi to the runway north of the island of Tenerife when the captain announced there was a technical maintenance problem.
Leon, who had already boarded the Iberia-operated flight after being escorted out by King Felipe and other Spanish dignitaries, was then escorted back from the aircraft by the king to the terminal.
WATCH: Pope Leo has been forced to leave the Iberia A320 in which he was scheduled to travel to Rome and later to the Vatican due to technical problems.
Iberia said in a statement, “Due to an issue with one of the aircraft systems the aircraft must be checked by technicians.” pic.twitter.com/L38PVqWEON
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) June 12, 2026
In later announcements, after Leon had left the plane, the captain said the engine was most likely unable to start because of the wind. He stated that the aircraft was to be towed so that it was nose downwind and that the engine start would be attempted again.
The captain announces the delayed departure of the papal plane from Tenerife to Rome due to “an incident with one of the aircraft systems” requiring maintenance: pic.twitter.com/jCe5eis6uc
— Courtney Mares (@catholicourtney) June 12, 2026
He later said the issue could not be resolved immediately and the rest of the passengers were told they had to get off.
Iberia said in a statement that the plane had encountered an unspecified technical problem and that a replacement aircraft was being sent from Madrid to make the trip to Rome on Friday.
But the Catholic News Agency reports that King Felipe, who kept the sovereign pontiff company in the airport terminal, made his private Falcon plane available for him to return to Rome.
For now, it is not clear what decision Pope Leo made regarding the aircraft he will use to return to the Vatican.
