Spanish Prime Minister’s Paris visit cut short by in-flight technical malfunction

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, was forced to cancel his trip to Paris after the official government aircraft encountered a technical malfunction mid-flight, compelling an emergency return to Madrid. Originally scheduled to attend the crucial Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine meeting on September 4, Sánchez will now participate remotely via videoconference.

According to official government sources, the unforeseen technical issue prevented Sánchez from being physically present alongside other international leaders, many of whom are also joining the summit virtually, including US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Caliber.Az reports, citing Spanish media.

The Falcon jet carrying Sánchez and his delegation departed from Torrejón Air Base near Madrid just before 8:30 a.m. However, roughly an hour into the flight, the aircraft detected a mechanical problem, prompting an immediate return to its point of origin. The high-profile meeting in Paris had been slated to commence at 10:30 a.m.

The Prime Minister had recently concluded a diplomatic visit to London, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During their discussions, the two leaders signed a bilateral cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening ties across multiple sectors, setting a positive tone before Sánchez’s intended journey to Paris.

The Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, consisting of 35 countries, convened in a hybrid format, with key figures including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy physically present in Paris, while numerous other participants joined via remote connections. The summit’s agenda focused on assessing progress related to security guarantees for Ukraine and evaluating the ramifications of Russia’s ongoing refusal to engage in peace negotiations.

By Vafa Guliyeva