Spain’s King Felipe VI has reportedly offered the use of a royal aircraft to transport Pope Leo back to Rome after the pontiff’s return flight from Spain was grounded due to a technical fault, reports AP and Spanish newspaper El País.
The Iberia-operated charter aircraft carrying the Pope was forced to abort its scheduled departure from Madrid after engineers detected a mechanical issue shortly before take-off, triggering immediate safety procedures and grounding the flight.
According to El Pais, Spanish authorities moved quickly to arrange an alternative aircraft, with the royal household authorising the deployment of a private jet to ensure the Pope’s safe return to the Vatican.
El País reported that the offer of a royal aircraft was made as a precautionary measure amid uncertainty over repair timelines.
The disruption occurred as Pope Leo was concluding a week-long pastoral visit to Spain, which included meetings with senior clergy and public engagements across several cities.
The incident is being described as an unusual occurrence in modern papal travel, where aircraft are typically subject to strict maintenance regimes and contingency planning before official foreign visits.
No injuries or security concerns were reported, and officials said the situation was handled in line with standard aviation safety protocols.
The precise nature of the technical fault has not been disclosed.
Neither the Vatican nor the Spanish royal household has issued a detailed statement beyond confirming that alternative return arrangements were being coordinated with aviation authorities.
