First Batch of Riau Hajj Pilgrims Arrives Safely in Indonesia from Jeddah

The initial group of Hajj pilgrims from Riau Province has arrived back in Indonesia after completing the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims, part of Flying Group (Kloter) BTH 03, landed at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, Riau Islands, having departed from King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. All pilgrims and Hajj officers in the group were reported to have arrived safely.

The Head of the Riau Regional Office for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Defizon, expressed gratitude for the smooth repatriation process of the first batch of Riau pilgrims. "Alhamdulillah, the first Hajj pilgrims from Riau Province in Kloter BTH 03 have arrived safely in Indonesia, even though there was an adjustment to the flight schedule," Defizon stated on Friday.

Defizon explained that the pilgrims were originally scheduled to depart from King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah on Thursday at 02.25 Saudi Arabia Time (WAS). However, the departure experienced a schedule adjustment, resulting in the aircraft taking off at 03.37 WAS. Despite the change in departure time, the repatriation process proceeded smoothly. Information regarding the schedule adjustment had been communicated by Saudi Airlines to the Batam Debarkation Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH). Following the adjustment, all pilgrims in the group were able to depart and arrive safely in Indonesia on Thursday at 16.53 Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

Kloter BTH 03 consisted of 443 people, including both pilgrims and Hajj officers. Two ‘tanazul’ pilgrims from West Kalimantan Province also joined the repatriation flight. According to Defizon, the number of pilgrims returning to Indonesia was the same as the number at departure, meaning the entire group returned intact. "The pilgrims of Kloter BTH 03 returned completely intact, the same as at the time of departure, which was 443 people," he said.