A medical plane carrying Norway's king departs Malaysia, the day after he received a pacemaker

A Scandinavian Airlines medevac plane, believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald, is seen at Langkawi international airport on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. An airplane believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald departed Malaysia on Sunday, a day after he was implanted with a pacemaker. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

LANGKAWI, Malaysia (AP) — An airplane carrying Norway’s King Harald V departed Malaysia on Sunday, a day after he was implanted with a pacemaker.

Europe’s oldest reigning monarch was hospitalized for an infection during a private vacation on the northern resort island of Langkawi, the royal house said Tuesday.

He underwent surgery at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital on Saturday to implant a temporary pacemaker due to a low heart rate, according to the royal house.

Norwegian media outlets said Harald traveled to Malaysia with his wife, Queen Sonja, to celebrate his 87th birthday.

A Scandinavian Airlines medical evacuation plane, which took off from Oslo on Thursday, arrived in Langkawi on Friday. The Boeing 737-700 aircraft has previously been used as a flying ambulance.

A Scandinavian Airlines medevac plane, believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald, takes off on the runway at Langkawi international airport on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. An airplane believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald departed Malaysia on Sunday, a day after he was implanted with a pacemaker. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

According to Flightradar24, the same plane departed from Langkawi on Sunday headed for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, from where it is scheduled to travel onward to Norway.

The Norwegian royal house confirmed Sunday that the monarch has left Malaysia and the plane is expected to arrive in Oslo early Monday.

“Upon arrival in Norway, His Majesty will be admitted to the (Oslo) hospital Rikshospitalet,” the royal palace said, adding that Harald would remain on sick leave for the next two weeks, during which Crown Prince Haakon will assume the monarch’s duties.

According to Norwegian news agency NTB, which cited information from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the king’s transport back to Norway will cost an estimated 2 million Norwegian kroner ($190,000), which will be taken from the defense budget.

The aging Norwegian monarch has suffered from frail health over the past few years, and has been admitted to a hospital for treatment on numerous occasions. Harald, who has been seen using crutches, had an operation to replace a heart valve in October 2020 after being hospitalized with breathing difficulties.

A Scandinavian Airlines medevac plane, believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald, is seen at Langkawi international airport on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. An airplane believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald departed Malaysia on Sunday, a day after he was implanted with a pacemaker.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Harald has repeatedly said he has no plans to abdicate, unlike his second cousin Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who stepped down earlier this year.

Ambulance, left, believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald is seen at Langkawi international airport on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Harald’s duties as Norway’s head of state are ceremonial and he holds no political power. He ascended to the throne following the death of his father, King Olav, in 1991.

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Jari Tanner contributed to this report from Helsinki, Finland.

Local residents watch a Scandinavian Airlines medevac plane prepare to take off on runway at Langkawi international airport on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. An airplane believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald departed Malaysia on Sunday, a day after he was implanted with a pacemaker. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

An unidentified person comes out from ambulance, left, believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald is seen at Langkawi international airport on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. An airplane believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald departed Malaysia on Sunday, a day after he was implanted with a pacemaker. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

An unidentified person comes down from a plane as ambulance, left, believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald is seen at Langkawi international airport on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Ambulance believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald leave Sultanah Maliha Hospital, where Norway’s King Harald has been admitted with an infection, on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Ambulance believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald leave Sultanah Maliha Hospital, where the King Harald has been admitted with an infection, on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Motorcade believed to be carrying Norway’s King Harald leave Sultanah Maliha Hospital, where the King has been admitted with an infection, on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)