Makassar–Jeddah Umrah Flight Operates as Scheduled, Carrying 431 Pilgrims
The flight carrying prospective umrah pilgrims from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, continued to operate as scheduled.
The Jeddah flight went ahead even though it remained unclear whether the situation in Saudi Arabia was stable amid the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthi militia.
“Today’s umrah flight is still on schedule; the UPG–JED route is operating,” Mahesa Citra, Acting Head of the Branch Communication and CSR Department at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, told CNN Indonesia on Tuesday (13 October).
Mahesa said only one flight from Makassar to Jeddah was scheduled to depart that day: JT095 on the UPG–JED route.
The flight had originally been due to depart at around 12.00 WITA, but was delayed until 14.45 WITA. It was nevertheless still due to operate, Mahesa said.
Despite the change to the departure time, JT095 remained scheduled to fly to Jeddah, with a total of 431 passengers recorded on board.
Previously, dozens of prospective umrah pilgrims from Makassar had their departure to Saudi Arabia delayed after Malaysia Airlines cancelled its connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur to Madinah on Monday (12 October).
The cancellation followed a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. Fifty-three pilgrims had been due to travel from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport to Kuala Lumpur before continuing to Saudi Arabia.
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport General Manager Ruly Artha said Malaysia Airlines flight MH846 from Makassar to Kuala Lumpur continued to operate, carrying only 30 regular passengers.
“Regarding the video circulating about the delayed umrah trip, we can confirm that Malaysia Airlines flight MH846 from Makassar to Kuala Lumpur continued to operate, with a total of 30 regular passengers,” Ruly said on Tuesday (13 October).
The 53 prospective umrah pilgrims did not travel because Malaysia Airlines flight MH158 from Kuala Lumpur to Madinah had been cancelled.