Riyadh incident: Umrah operators monitor flight status, pilgrims’ safety

KUALA LUMPUR - Local umrah travel agencies are closely monitoring flight statuses and developments surrounding a fire at Terminal 4 of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to ensure the safety of Malaysian pilgrims scheduled to depart for the Holy Land.

Andalusia Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd Umrah Management Board member Nur Hayati Mohd Rodzi said so far, none of the pilgrims under the agency’s care have been affected by flight cancellations following the incident.

"Alhamdulillah, all our pilgrims are safe and are now in Makkah,” she said when contacted.

Nur Hayati said the flight that departed at 2 am today operated as usual, while Qatar Airways flights also experienced no disruptions. However, a flight scheduled to depart at 5 pm today was delayed by an hour.

She said the agency would continue to monitor the latest updates and comply with airline directives regarding any changes to schedules or flight cancellations.

"As long as the airlines do not cancel their scheduled flights, we will proceed as usual. If there are cancellations, we will follow their instructions as and when they are issued,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gemilang Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd Umrah and Haj executive Monika Isa said so far, none of the pilgrims under the agency’s care who are in Saudi Arabia are affected by the incident.

She said the next group of pilgrims is scheduled to depart this Thursday, but the agency is still seeking confirmation from Malaysia Airlines through its Amal umrah flight service regarding reports of flight cancellations it had received.

Monika said the agency would keep pilgrims informed of the latest developments and advise them on whether to proceed with or postpone their trips, taking into account the financial implications of both options.

"We will inform them so they can decide whether to proceed or postpone their trips. If they choose to proceed, the risk is theirs. However, as long as the airline has not cancelled the flight, it means their journey can still take place safely as planned,” she said.

Earlier, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said the airport had been hit by an unidentified projectile on Sunday afternoon, triggering a fire.

According to the country’s civil aviation authorities, the incident left one person dead and 11 others injured. It occurred a day after another attack at the same airport which killed 12 people and injured more than 300 others.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was reported to have advised Malaysians to temporarily postpone travel to Saudi Arabia for umrah pilgrimage due to the security risks arising from the incident. - BERNAMA