100 umrah pilgrims stranded due to delayed flight set to leave tonight

The 100 umrah pilgrims who were left stranded after their flight to Saudi Arabia on Monday got delayed will leave for Mecca on Tuesday night, says tour group, Qibla Hajj & Umrah.

One of the pilgrims told Sun that they had been scheduled to depart at 08:00 on Monday, but waited for hours at the airport after their flight got delayed.

Yameen Idrees, the managing director of Qibla Hajj & Umrah, told Sun that some of the pilgrims under their charge were unable to leave for Mecca on Monday due to issues with their Saudi Airlines flight.

But the cause for the delay is unclear.

He said that the airline had provided accommodation to the pilgrims.

“The airline made arrangements for the umrah pilgrims until their new flight. The airline informed us today that the flight will depart at 08:00 pm and that check-in will start at 05:00 pm,” he said.

Hundreds of Maldivians are set to depart to Saudi Arabia for the umrah pilgrimage in December, which schools set to close for the year-end holidays this week.