The official aircraft carrying Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, was forced to make an unexpected landing in Ankara, Turkey's capital, on Sunday. This occurred after a technical issue was identified during the flight to Yerevan, Armenia, according to the State Secretariat for Communication.
The plane, an Airbus A310 operated by the Spanish Air Force, took off from the Torrejón de Ardoz airbase in Madrid shortly before 4 p.m., headed for the Armenian capital. Sánchez was scheduled to participate in the 8th Summit of the European Political Community there.
Sources from the government, as reported by the EFE Agency, stated that the incident "was not serious but required the activation of the safety protocol established for such situations."
Emergency Landing Protocol Activated
The onboard crew followed the directives, deciding to make a precautionary landing in Ankara. This necessitated a reorganization of the president's schedule, with Sánchez spending the night in the Turkish capital.
The State Secretariat for Communication confirmed that Sánchez plans to resume his journey on Monday, once the technical issues with the aircraft are resolved.
Summit Agenda and International Participation
Invited by European Council President António Costa and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Sánchez was to attend the summit themed "Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe." The event gathers nearly 50 European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; and other prominent figures like Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer.
This marks the first European Political Community summit held in the South Caucasus and the inaugural participation of Canada, represented by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Once in Yerevan, Sánchez is scheduled to formally greet Pashinian, speak at the European Political Community's plenary session, and join a roundtable on Democratic Resilience and Hybrid Threats.
Past Incidents with Official Aircraft
This latest incident is not the first affecting the official flights of the Spanish Prime Minister. In September 2025, Sánchez had to return to Madrid while en route to Paris in a Falcon 900 due to a cabin depressurization risk, which prevented him from attending a meeting of the Coalition of Volunteers for Ukraine in person.
Additionally, in March 2024, another Falcon 900 experienced a potential cabin depressurization while Sánchez was traveling with his family to Doñana in Huelva, necessitating an emergency landing back at Torrejón de Ardoz.
The official fleet of Spain's 45th Air Force Group, based in Torrejón de Ardoz, comprises seven aircraft—two Airbus A310s and five Falcon 900s—with over 40 years of structural age. Despite continuous maintenance and parts replacement, these planes are considered outdated. As Infobae noted, "The 45th Group's aircraft have over 40 years of flights, which would immediately retire them from service in a commercial airline."
None of the incidents involving presidential flights have been deemed serious by Spanish authorities to date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Government Aircraft Incidents
What caused Pedro Sánchez's plane to make an emergency landing?
The emergency landing was prompted by a technical issue detected during the flight to Yerevan, Armenia.
How old is the Spanish government's official aircraft fleet?
The aircraft fleet, including the Airbus A310 and Falcon 900, has over 40 years of structural age.
Have any previous incidents involving the Prime Minister's flights been considered serious?
No, none of the past incidents have been classified as serious by the Spanish authorities.