Soppeng Hajj Pilgrim Cancelled from Departure Due to 10-Week Pregnancy

A prospective Hajj pilgrim from Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi, has been confirmed to miss joining flight group (kloter) 1 from Makassar Embarkation. This decision was made after the final health examination showed that the pilgrim is pregnant at 10 weeks gestation.

According to Hajj flight health regulations, pregnant pilgrims are only permitted to depart if their pregnancy is between 16 and 24 weeks. Outside this range, pilgrims are declared unfit to fly for the safety of both mother and foetus.

The Head of the South Sulawesi Ministry of Religious Affairs Office, Ikbal Ismail, explained that the embarkation health examination results are final. “Pilgrims who may be sent off are those whose pregnancy is between 16 and 24 weeks. Below 16 weeks, they are unfit to fly; above 26 weeks, also unfit. At 10 weeks, it clearly does not meet the criteria,” Ikbal stated on Wednesday (22/4).

These strict rules refer to international aviation safety standards and Hajj health protocols. Long-distance air travel and the strenuous physical activities of the Hajj pilgrimage pose a high risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy or premature labour in late pregnancy.

This cancellation occurred less than 24 hours before the scheduled departure of Kloter 1 from Makassar Embarkation, set for 03:20 WITA. This situation means the organising committee cannot fill the empty seat with a replacement pilgrim.

“We have reported to the centre. Because the time is less than 24 hours, this seat will likely remain empty. According to regulations, the replacement process requires at least 2x24 hours from when the proposal is submitted,” Ikbal added.

With this one pilgrim’s cancellation, the total number of pilgrims departing in this kloter is 392 (consisting of 386 pilgrims and 7 Hajj officials) from the normal quota of 393. Although the pilgrim’s identity is kept confidential, the committee assures that the individual has accepted the decision gracefully.

As a preventive measure, the Hajj organising committee requires all female pilgrims in the fertile age category to undergo periodic urine tests, including just before entering the Hajj dormitory and during boarding, to detect potential pregnancy as early as possible. (I-2)

If pregnancy under 16 weeks is detected, pilgrims may still depart provided they are in prime health and receive special supervision from the kloter health team.

All Saudi Arabian immigration examination processes have been moved from Jeddah/Madinah to Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, Makassar.

According to Ikbal, the first kloter will enter the dormitory at 08:00 WITA and depart at 03:20 WITA the following day.