Late Monday night an Arab airline failed to transport 900 visitors back to their countries from Madina despite confirming their reservations quite early, forcing the Ministry of Haj and Umrah companies to provide them accommodation in five-star hotels. Muhammad Abdul Rahman Al-Bijawi, director of the Ministry of Haj branch in Madina region, said his administration is looking into the cause for the delay of five departing flights including three flights for the Algerian, Libyan and Tunisian missions. Al-Bijawi said, “A Libyan airline abandoned its passengers, leaving 150 Libyan visitors stranded at Prince Muhammad Bin Aziz International Airport on Tuesday.” Al-Bijawi added that three flights for visitors from the Algerian mission were supposed to have departed on Tuesday but their departure was delayed hence, the Umrah company was forced to secure accommodation for them until their departure. Al-Bijawi said the Haj Ministry branch and officials of the Central Haj Committee in Madina region on Tuesday also looked into the case of 300 Tunisian visitors who were stranded at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, a number of stranded visitors said the delay had caused them great difficulty. Meanwhile, the Northern Terminal of King Abdul Aziz International Airport was overcrowded with Umrah pilgrims on Tuesday. Engineer Samir Mira from KAIA confirmed the overcrowding of Umrah pilgrims due to the heavy pressure on departing flights.
