King Felipe loans plane to Pope Leo

King Felipe of Spain has loaned his own plane to Pope Leo after the Pope’s plane broke down with engine problems.

The Pope’s chartered Iberia plane broke down on the runway in the Canary Islands. He was due to travel home to Rome after his visit to Spain over the last week. Pope Leo had already boarded the plane when the problems were noticed. He was then forced to deplane.

Photo: © Casa de S.M. el Rey

King Felipe walked the Pope across the tarmac of Santa Cruz de Tenerife airport when his plane was made available. The Pope eventually departed three hours later.

Not everyone could board the new plane. The journalists accompanying the Pope had to wait for a replacement Iberia plane.