Pope to return in Spanish royal jet after tech issue grounds plane

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE – Pope Leo XIV is returning to Rome on the Spanish royal jet, a change of plans facilitated by the king’s offer after the plane the pontiff had already boarded was grounded by a technical difficulty.

The pope was already running an hour behind schedule when his plane’s departure was further delayed by the technical issue.

Leo had just concluded a brief meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain at Tenerife Norte-Los Rodeos International Airport.

Leo deplaned and was escorted to a private room in the airport, where he is waiting with the king while technicians attempted to resolve the issue, which has been described as a problem with the engine.

After a failed attempt to resolve the issue, the captain announced that “our tech crew is waiting to fix the issue, but it will take time to completely resolve.” Journalists and the papal delegation were asked to disembark the plane.

While rare, unexpected tech problems and weather issues on papal flights are not unprecedented.

In 1990, while Pope John Paul II was enroute to Tanzania, his plane experienced what was described as a mechanical failure and was forced to make an emergency landing in