12 Flight Groups from Palembang Debarkation Return Home

Palembang (ANTARA) - A total of 12 flight groups (kloter) of Hajj pilgrims from the Palembang Debarkation have returned to the homeland as of Friday, with 5,303 people and officers arriving through Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Airport in Palembang.

The Head of the South Sumatra Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj, M Arkan Nurwahiddin, stated in Palembang on Friday that the total returnees comprised 4,186 pilgrims from South Sumatra, 1,069 pilgrims from Bangka Belitung, and 48 flight group officers.

“To date, 12 flight groups have returned to the homeland via the Palembang Debarkation, totalling 5,303 pilgrims and officers,” he said.

He explained that the last group to arrive was flight group 12, which landed in Palembang on Thursday afternoon (18/6). The number of members in that group changed from 439 at departure to 435 upon return to Indonesia. One person, Ngadiyo Resodiryo Adam (63) from Musi Rawas Regency, was reported to have passed away in the Holy Land.

Staff Expert for Management and Public Service Transformation at the Indonesian Ministry of Hajj, Ramadhan Harisman, reminded pilgrims to maintain the mabrur (blessed) status of their Hajj after returning to their respective regions. He said that the various practices cultivated during the pilgrimage in the Holy Land, such as timely congregational prayers, charity, reading the Quran, and dhikr, need to be sustained in daily life.

“The challenge after returning is preserving the mabrur status of the Hajj. Therefore, the good habits practised while in Saudi Arabia should be continued,” he stated. He also expressed gratitude that all pilgrims arriving with flight group 12 were in good health. “Alhamdulillah, all pilgrims returning with flight group 12 are in good health. May their Hajj be a mabrur Hajj,” Ramadhan said.