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Pope Leo XIV Switches Planes After Iberia Charter Engine Failure in Tenerife
Pope Leo XIV changed aircraft Friday after his Iberia charter experienced an engine start failure at Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport. King Felipe VI provided his Falcon jet, allowing departure more than three hours late.
Jun 12, 12:11 PM·1m read4 sources
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Pope Leo XIV's Iberia charter flight experienced a technical issue on the tarmac at Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands on Friday. The plane's engine failed to start after the pope had boarded. Passengers were required to disembark when initial repair attempts did not succeed.
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King Felipe VI offered his private Falcon jet as an alternative aircraft. The king escorted Pope Leo XIV to the replacement plane on the tarmac. The pope and members of his delegation boarded the Falcon jet and departed more than three hours after the original scheduled departure time.
Iberia stated it would send another aircraft from Madrid to transport remaining Vatican officials and journalists who did not travel on the king's plane. The delay occurred at the end of a weeklong visit that included stops in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. During the trip Pope Leo XIV delivered messages on migration and inaugurated the new tower of the Sagrada Familia basilica.
The Canary Islands lie closer to Africa than to the Iberian Peninsula. The incident marked the first time in decades that a papal flight required the pope to change planes due to a mechanical problem. Iberia had earlier released video showing Pope Leo XIV seated in the cockpit during flights between Madrid and Barcelona and between Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
Spanish military aircraft provided airborne escorts during those segments.
