Repatriation of 14 Aceh Hajj Flight Groups Completed, 19 Pilgrims Passed Away
The Hajj season for 1447 H/2026 M for pilgrims from Aceh has officially ended. The entire repatriation process for 14 flight groups (kloter) from the Aceh Embarkation was completed in the early hours of Tuesday (30/6). However, grief accompanies this return, with a record of 19 pilgrims from the ‘Serambi Mekkah’ region passing away during the performance of the pilgrimage.
Based on collected data, the majority of pilgrims passed away while undergoing the series of Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, there was one instance of a pilgrim passing away on the aircraft during the return journey to the homeland via Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM) Airport, Aceh Besar.
The 19th pilgrim reported to have died was Mardani Asya Adam (61), from Bener Meriah Regency. The pilgrim from the Gayo highlands passed away on Monday (29/6) at King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
“It is suspected that the cause of death was ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome),” said the Chairman of the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) for the Aceh Embarkation, Arrijal, on Monday (29/6).
In addition to Mardani, deep sorrow also struck the return of flight group 07 BTJ. An elderly pilgrim, Aisyah Abdullah Nanggroe binti Abdullah Nanggroe (92), from East Aceh Regency, passed away inside a Garuda Indonesia aircraft.
The incident occurred as the plane was preparing to land at Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport on Monday (22/6) at approximately 10:20 WIB. The news of the death was confirmed directly by the airline shortly after the aircraft touched the runway.
“After landing, there was an announcement from the cabin crew that Aisyah binti Abdullah Nanggroe had passed away,” said H. Abdullah AR, Leader of the Pilgrimage Guidance Group (KBIHU) Ibnu Mas’ud, who accompanied the group.
Overall, the PPIH noted that the majority of Aceh Hajj pilgrims who died this season fell into the elderly category. In addition to age, heart health issues were the dominant cause in the medical reports of the deceased pilgrims.
As of the early hours of Tuesday (30/6), all pilgrims from the 14 flight groups have returned to their respective regions, marking the end of the 2026 Aceh Embarkation Hajj operations.