South Sulawesi Hajj Flight Group 42 Arrives at Makassar Debarkation

Makassar - Flight group (kloter) 42 of South Sulawesi hajj pilgrims arrived back in the country via the Makassar Debarkation on Wednesday at 06:22 Central Indonesia Time. Secretary of the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) for the Makassar Embarkation-Debarkation, Asa Afif Bahri, officially received and handed over the pilgrims to their respective regional governments, represented by Bantaeng Deputy Regent Sahabuddin. “Alhamdulillah, you have completed the fifth pillar of Islam. May all your acts of worship be accepted by Allah SWT and the title of hajj mabrur be maintained throughout your lives,” he said. The Garuda Indonesia flight GIA 1442 carrying group 42 landed at the local airport at 06:22 WITA. This second-to-last group brought home 389 pilgrims and officials. When it departed from the Makassar Embarkation, the group numbered 390 people, but one pilgrim from Bantaeng Regency, Johrang Baso (58), passed away in the Holy Land on 16 June 2026. Asa Afif Bahri expressed appreciation to all hajj organising officers, regional governments, health workers, and assistants who synergised to provide services to the pilgrims from departure to return. Bantaeng Deputy Regent Sahabuddin expressed gratitude for the pilgrims’ safe return in good health. He invited those present to pray for the late Johrang Baso, the pilgrim from Bantaeng who died while performing the hajj in the Holy Land. “May the deceased be forgiven all his sins, have his acts of worship accepted, and attain hajj mabrur,” he said before leading the assembly in reciting Surah Al-Fatihah. He also appreciated the increasingly improved organisation of the 2026 hajj pilgrimage. He expressed hope that all pilgrims would uphold the values of worship gained in the Holy Land and become role models in society. With the arrival of group 42, a total of 16,441 pilgrims and officials have now returned to the country through the Hasanuddin Makassar Debarkation. One final group of 246 people remains to conclude this year’s hajj repatriation operations.