More than 100 haj pilgrims depart for Jeddah a day after being stuck on plane at Changi Airport

Fatimah Mujibah
The Straits Times
June 23, 2023

More than 100 Muslim pilgrims from Singapore were stranded in their plane at Changi Airport for over four hours on Friday morning before they were told to disembark, reported Berita Harian.

The pilgrims had been set to depart for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to perform the annual pilgrimage in Mecca.

The Saudia flight, SV3621, had been scheduled to leave Changi Airport at around 4.30am on Friday and arrive in Jeddah at around noon. Saudia is formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines.

One of the pilgrims affected, Mr Suffian Apandi, 40, told Berita Harian: “I actually fell asleep because the gathering time was very early this morning.

“So when I woke up and looked out of the window, I was very surprised to see that we were still on the runway and had not taken off.”

At around 9am, all the passengers were asked to disembark from the plane, which appeared to have experienced technical issues.

The Straits Times has contacted Saudia and Changi Airport for more information.

The affected pilgrims had booked their trips with Hahnemann Travel and Tours, TM Fouzy Travel and Tours, and Shahidah Travel and Tours.

A spokesman for Hahnemann Travel told ST that the agency is aware of the incident and was informed about the mechanical error by the airline.

The passengers were offered coupons and complimentary breakfast as compensation, he added. 

An update from Changi Airport indicated that all passengers on the Friday-morning flight departed for Jeddah at about 3.45am on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia allocates 900 places for Singaporean pilgrims to perform the haj every year.

The last group of pilgrims is expected to leave for Jeddah on Saturday, with the haj rituals set to begin late on Sunday at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.