Umrah pilgrims stranded in Makassar after Saudi flight canceled
Travel operators are covering hotel and meal costs, while routes via Riyadh are being avoided for now.
Several umrah pilgrims were stranded at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar after a flight to Saudi Arabia was canceled amid security disruptions in Saudi Arabia. The South Sulawesi Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah sent a team to tally affected pilgrims and the flights that were canceled. DPD AMPHURI Sulampua chairman Azhar Gazali said the airline chose to delay or cancel departures to avoid risk while conditions in the region remained unstable. At the national level, DPP ASPHURINDO Secretary General Muhammad Iqbal Muhajir said cancellations and delays also hit other groups, including those transiting through Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He said travel operators are now covering extra costs such as hotel accommodation and pilgrim meals, and are urging temporary rerouting through Jeddah or Madinah instead of Riyadh.