A plane carrying Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was forced to make an emergency landing in Turkiye on Sunday evening due to technical difficulties. Sánchez was reportedly en route to Armenia to attend a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) when the aircraft encountered unspecified technical issues. While the exact nature of the problem was not disclosed, all passengers on board are reported to be safe.

The incident occurred just as European leaders were gathering in Yerevan for the EPC summit, which officially begins today. Despite the delay, the Spanish delegation is working on alternative travel arrangements to ensure the Prime Minister can participate in the high-level talks. The summit is expected to focus on regional security and the ongoing energy crisis affecting the continent. 

This emergency landing has briefly shifted the spotlight onto aviation safety protocols for high-ranking government officials. Turkish authorities provided immediate assistance at the airport to ensure the security of the Spanish leader while the aircraft underwent inspection. Further updates regarding the Prime Minister’s updated schedule are expected later today as the Yerevan summit kicks off.