A routine flight home turned into an extraordinary travel drama when Pope Leo XIV found himself stranded in Spain after a technical fault grounded his aircraft, forcing an unexpected intervention from King Felipe VI.

The pontiff had just completed a six-day visit to Spain and was preparing to fly back to Rome from Tenerife North Airport when his departure was abruptly halted by a problem with the plane.

According to reports, the aircraft suffered a technical issue during pre-flight procedures, preventing it from taking off as scheduled. Engineers were unable to resolve the fault immediately, leaving the Pope and his entourage stuck on the ground while alternative arrangements were considered.

For most travellers, a delayed flight means hours spent waiting in an airport terminal. For the head of the Catholic Church, it led to an unusual royal rescue.

King Felipe steps in

Spain’s King Felipe VI had travelled to Tenerife to bid farewell to the Pope at the end of his visit. When it became clear that the aircraft would not be leaving on time, the King reportedly offered the use of his official Falcon government jet.

The gesture allowed Pope Leo to continue his journey to Rome without a lengthy delay, while members of the papal delegation and accompanying journalists remained behind to await a replacement aircraft.

The rare intervention quickly attracted international attention, highlighting the close ties between the Spanish monarchy and the Vatican.

A busy week across Spain

The travel disruption came at the end of a significant visit that took the Pope to several parts of Spain.

During the trip, Pope Leo celebrated Masses attended by thousands of worshippers, met political and religious leaders, and focused much of his message on migration and social inclusion.

One of the most symbolic moments of the tour came in Barcelona, where the pontiff took part in celebrations linked to the completion of the final tower of the world-famous Sagrada Família.

He also spent time in the Canary Islands, a region that has become one of Europe’s key arrival points for migrants crossing from Africa.

An unusual end to a historic visit

While aircraft faults are not uncommon in commercial aviation, it is exceptionally rare for a papal journey to be disrupted in such a public way.

Vatican watchers described the incident as one of the most unusual travel mishaps involving a Pope in recent years.

Despite the unexpected delay, Pope Leo eventually arrived safely in Rome, bringing an end to a visit that had already generated headlines across Spain. But for a few hours on a Tenerife runway, even one of the world’s most recognisable figures found himself facing a problem familiar to millions of travellers: a grounded plane and an uncertain journey home