Pope returns to Rome on King Felipe VI’s Falcon 900 after an Iberia A320 technical issue
Pope Leo XIV returned to Rome aboard a Dassault Falcon 900 private jet provided by King Felipe VI of Spain after a technical problem grounded the Iberia Airbus A320 scheduled to fly him back to the Vatican from Tenerife.
An engine issue affecting Iberia’s chartered aircraft delayed the Pope’s departure from Tenerife North Airport (Los Rodeos).
After a farewell ceremony with King Felipe VI, the Pope had already boarded the aircraft when one of the engines failed to start. Passengers were forced to disembark after initial attempts failed to resolve the problem.
The technical issue brought an unusual conclusion to Pope Leo XIV’s week-long apostolic visit to Spain, which included stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
20-year-old Airbus A320 customised for Papal service
The aircraft that suffered the engine-related problem while preparing to return Pope Leo XIV to Rome was the Iberia Airbus A320-214, registration EC-MDK, which had been specially prepared for the papal visit.
According to reports, the Iberia pilot initially announced that strong headwinds had caused an engine failure. The plane repositioned and again attempted to start the engine, but was unable to do so. Everyone onboard disembarked, and the Spanish King returned to the aircraft to accompany the Pope to the airport’s VIP lounge.
Reuters reported that Iberia later described the event as a technical issue and dispatched a replacement aircraft from Madrid.
King Felipe VI steps in with Falcon
In an unusual gesture, King Felipe VI offered the use of his Falcon jet to transport Pope Leo and a few members of his delegation to Rome.
The Vatican confirmed that “Pope Leo XIV will return to Rome aboard an aircraft graciously made available by His Majesty the King of Spain.”
The royal aircraft, which had brought the King to Tenerife for the Papal visit, departed Tenerife at around 6 p.m. local time and arrived in Rome at approximately 11 p.m. local time.
Because the King’s Falcon could not accommodate everyone who had been travelling with the Pope, only his closest collaborators and senior Vatican officials boarded the royal aircraft.
Around 80 journalists and other members of the papal entourage remained behind and later returned to Rome aboard a replacement aircraft arranged by Iberia. The flight disruption prevented the customary in-flight press conference with journalists accompanying the Pope.
Iberia also dispatched an aircraft to transport the King to Madrid.
King Felipe VI’s Falcon 900B
The aircraft that flew Pope Leo XIV back to Rome was a Spanish Air and Space Force Dassault Falcon 900B, operated by Grupo 45, the unit responsible for transporting the Spanish royal family and senior government officials.
Pope Leo XIV flies back to the Vatican aboard an aircraft provided by King Felipe of Spain, following a technical issue that prevented the original plane from departing from Tenerife’s Los Rodeos airport.
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 12, 2026
“Pope Leo XIV will return to Rome aboard an aircraft graciously made… pic.twitter.com/pjs9Lg1tfn
Spain’s VIP fleet is operated by the 45th Group of the Spanish Air and Space Force and includes five Dassault Falcon 900 aircraft and two Airbus A310 aircraft used for larger delegations.
The Falcon 900B, emblazoned with “Reino de España”—Kingdom of Spain—along the side of the fuselage, is a long-range business jet. The roughly 1,600-nautical-mile journey from Tenerife to Rome is well within the aircraft’s range.
Only about 15 people accompanied the Pope on the return flight, with the aircraft’s capacity sufficient to transport Pope Leo XIV and his closest aides.
A rare technical disruption during a papal trip
It is extremely rare for a papal trip to require a last-minute change of aircraft because of a mechanical problem.
According to the Associated Press, reporters accompanying the Pope on his trip through Spain recounted a couple of disruptions during St. John Paul II’s pontificate, though both were weather related.
In 1986, during a return trip from India, a snowstorm in Rome forced John Paul’s plane to land in Naples. The Pope and passengers in his entourage returned to Rome on a dedicated train.
In 1988, en route to Lesotho, bad weather forced John Paul’s plane to land in South Africa. The Pope went to the kingdom by car.
Iberia’s long tradition of papal flights
The Vatican had chartered Iberia to operate Pope Leo XIV’s return flight to Rome as part of a longstanding tradition under which the national carrier of the host country transports the pontiff back to the Vatican.
Ahead of the trip, Iberia highlighted that it had previously flown Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI on several visits to Spain.
Despite the unexpected delay, Pope Leo XIV arrived safely in Rome aboard the Spanish King’s aircraft, bringing his fourth international apostolic journey to an unusual but successful close.
Featured Image: Iberia
