Pope borrows King of Spain's jet to return to Vatican after technical issue

https://www.reuters.com/world/popes-return-home-spain-delayed-plane-suffers-technical-issue-2026-06-12/

41 points · 4 comments · view on lemmy.world

4 Comments

AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 88d

At first I read Pepe, and was thoroughly confused.

Edit: I know they don't, but they should refer to the papal plane as Pope Force 1

ahetek@fedinsfw.app · 2 pts · 88d

On the costs of taxpayers

Archer@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 88d (1 reply)

Paywall

Krelis_@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 88d

TENERIFE, Spain, June 12 (Reuters) - Pope Leo boarded a Falcon jet offered by ​the King of Spain after a technical issue ‌grounded the larger papal plane on the island of Tenerife, delaying his return to the Vatican on Friday at ​the end of a week-long tour of ​Spain.

The Spanish government said the air force plane ⁠used by the king would fly the pope ​and several members of his delegation to Rome. The ​rest of the delegation and reporters will travel on another plane being sent from Madrid.

Leo had already boarded his Iberia-operated ​flight after being seen off by King Felipe ​and other Spanish dignitaries, but was then escorted off the ‌aircraft ⁠by the king back to the terminal. In announcements made after the pope had disembarked, the captain said the engine had likely failed to start because of ​the wind. ​He later said ⁠the issue could not be resolved immediately and that passengers would have to ​leave the plane. Iberia said in a statement ​that ⁠the plane had experienced an unspecified technical issue and that a replacement plane was being sent from Madrid ⁠that ​would complete the journey to ​Rome on Friday.