Dahnil: 2,000 Indonesian Pilgrims Stranded Due to Flight Disruptions

Jakarta — Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar disclosed that approximately 2,000 Indonesian pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia encountered difficulties due to flight disruptions, especially on routes requiring transit connections.

“I do not have precise data on those who were stranded, as there have been no updates yet, but ultimately they returned because they were stranded, with approximately 2,000 departing,” said Dahnil at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday evening, 10 March.

According to Dahnil, pilgrims who experienced return delays were generally passengers on connecting flights, affected by the conflict in the Middle East. He stated that these conditions disrupted their travel schedules when disturbances occurred with connecting flights.

“Generally, those who were stranded or failed to return were mostly passengers on flights requiring transit,” Dahnil explained.

He noted that beyond flight route factors, the high cost of air tickets also presented obstacles for several pilgrims to promptly return home. Consequently, a number of pilgrims were forced to wait temporarily abroad whilst seeking more affordable fares.

“Additionally, ticket prices were expensive, so many were forced to remain there temporarily to find tickets they could afford,” he said.

Despite this, Dahnil stated that some pilgrims who had been stranded have now successfully returned to Indonesia. The government continues to coordinate with relevant ministries and airlines to mitigate similar obstacles for future pilgrim journeys.