Return Hajj flights arriving two to three hours late

The return Hajj flights are arriving from Saudi Arabia two to three hours late on average.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Friday said the Hajjis were reporting late at Jeddah airport, causing the delay.

The flag carrier started its return Hajj flights behind schedule. The first flight touched down at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka seven hours behind schedule on Sep 28.

Of the five flights scheduled for Friday, four arrived until 6:30pm, all were two to three hours late.

The first flight of the day with 419 passengers on board arrived at 2:25am, second with 405 passengers at 5:25am, third with 414 at 3:25pmand the fourth with 296 passengers arrived at4pm.

The last flight of the day is scheduled to arrive at10:25pm.

The flight of the other airline carrying the Bangladeshi pilgrims this year - Saudi Arabian Airlines – was also more than an hour late.

Hajj pilgrims after their arrival at the Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Photo: asif mahmud ove

Biman’s Assistant Manager (Public Relations) Tasmin Akter said the pressure of Hajjis in Jeddah was high and the Saudi authorities also made special security arrangement in Masjid Al Haram site in Makkah.  As a result of which, passengers were reporting late at the airport. 

Biman is carrying half of the around 100,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims this year. It will operate the return flights until Oct 28.

Religious affairs ministry’s Joint Secretary Borhan Uddin told bdnews24.com they were ‘trying heart and soul’ to ease the sufferings of the pilgrims.

At the beginning of this year’s Hajj, 117 people, including a Bangladeshi national, were killed when a crane crashed at the Grand Mosque site in Makkah.

At the final legs of the Hajj, a stampede in Mina during the ‘stoning-of-devil’ ritual killed 769 on Sep 24.

Bangladesh foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that there were at least 26 Bangladeshi pilgrims among the victims.