Pope Leo XIV thanks Spanish Air Force crew after borrowed Falcon flight: 'Thank you for saving us'
After an Iberia jet suffered a technical fault at Tenerife Norte Airport, King Felipe VI lent the Pope a Spanish Air Force Falcon for his return to Rome. The pontiff told the crew, 'Muchas gracias por habernos salvado.'
The incident at Tenerife Norte
On Friday 12 June, Pope Leo XIV was due to fly from Tenerife Norte Airport to Rome aboard a scheduled Iberia aircraft, concluding his apostolic visit to Spain. The plane experienced a technical problem and the departure was delayed. The Pope and King Felipe VI, who was accompanying him, left the aircraft calmly and moved to a building adjacent to the terminal.
A royal intervention
King Felipe VI then offered the pontiff a Falcon jet belonging to Wing 45 of the Spanish Air and Space Force. The Pope and part of the ecclesiastical delegation flew to Rome on the Falcon, arriving on Friday night. The remaining passengers, mainly Vatican delegation members and journalists, returned on another aircraft provided by Iberia.
- Iberia flight scheduled; technical problem detected; Pope and King leave the aircraft.
- King Felipe VI lends a Falcon jet from the Spanish Air Force; Pope and part of delegation depart.
- Falcon lands in Rome with Pope on board.
- Spanish Air and Space Force publishes statement quoting Pope's thanks to the crew.
'Thank you for saving us'
On Saturday, the Spanish Air and Space Force published a statement on X recounting the Pope's words to the Falcon crew: 'Muchas gracias por habernos salvado.' The Air Force described the remark as 'a recognition of the professionalism, dedication and vocation of service of those who work every day for Spain.'
Muchas gracias por habernos salvado
A message to the crown
Upon his return to Rome, the Pope sent a message to King Felipe VI, expressing gratitude for 'la cálida acogida y la generosa hospitalidad' offered during the visit. He added: 'Asegurándole a usted y a todos los españoles mis continuas oraciones por la paz y la unidad de la nación, invoco cordialmente sobre cada uno de ustedes abundantes bendiciones divinas.'
Asegurándole a usted y a todos los españoles mis continuas oraciones por la paz y la unidad de la nación, invoco cordialmente sobre cada uno de ustedes abundantes bendiciones divinas.
A recurring pattern
Papal air-travel hiccups are rare but not unprecedented. In September 1988, John Paul II’s plane was forced to divert to Johannesburg because of a storm and the remainder of his trip to Lesotho was completed by road. Francis experienced an incident in 2016, and in 2025 a flight carrying Robert Prevost, the current Pope’s predecessor in the see of Chiclayo, also encountered difficulties.
