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.