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Pope's return home from Spain delayed as plane suffers technical issue

By Joshua McElwee Reuters
Pope Leo XIV and Spain's King Felipe VI leave the plane from which the Pope was due to depart on, following an incident at Tenerife Norte–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport, according to local media, Canary Islands, Spain, June 12, 2026, at the end of a seven-day apostolic journey to Spain, with visits to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he met with migrants and humanitarian organizations. REUTERS/Borja Suarez
Pope Leo XIV and Spain's King Felipe VI leave the plane from which the Pope was due to depart on, following an incident at Tenerife Norte–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport, according to local media, Canary Islands, Spain, June 12, 2026, at the end of a seven-day apostolic journey to Spain, with visits to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he met with migrants and humanitarian organizations. REUTERS/Borja Suarez Borja Suarez Reuters

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE - Pope Leo had to delay his return to Rome at the end of a week-long tour of Spain after his plane experienced a technical issue on Friday.

The plane carrying Pope Leo, Vatican staff and journalists was preparing to taxi to the runway when the captain announced that it had a maintenance problem.

Leo, who had already boarded his flight operated by carrier Iberia after being waved off by King Felipe and other Spanish dignitaries, was then escorted off the plane by the king back to the airport.

An Iberia spokesperson said maintenance specialists were checking a technical problem, without providing further detail.

In a second announcement after Leo had left the plane, the captain said the engine had probably been unable to start because of the wind. He said the plane would be towed so it faced the wind and they would try starting the engine again.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; writing by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

Pope Leo XIV and Spain's King Felipe VI walk on the tarmac after leaving the plane from which the Pope was due to depart on, following an incident at Tenerife Norte–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport, according to local media, Canary Islands, Spain, June 12, 2026, at the end of a seven-day apostolic journey to Spain, with visits to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he met with migrants and humanitarian organizations. REUTERS/Borja Suarez
Pope Leo XIV and Spain's King Felipe VI walk on the tarmac after leaving the plane from which the Pope was due to depart on, following an incident at Tenerife Norte–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport, according to local media, Canary Islands, Spain, June 12, 2026, at the end of a seven-day apostolic journey to Spain, with visits to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, where he met with migrants and humanitarian organizations. REUTERS/Borja Suarez Borja Suarez Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 11:09 AM.

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