24-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) More than 100 Muslim pilgrims from Singapore were left stranded in their plane at Changi Airport for over four hours on Friday before being told to disembark. The pilgrims were scheduled to depart for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to perform the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca.
The Saudia flight, SV3621, was due to leave Changi Airport at around 4.30am and arrive in Jeddah at around 12pm on Friday. However, the passengers were asked to disembark at around 9am after the plane appeared to have experienced technical issues.
Suffian Apandi, 40, one of the affected pilgrims, said: “I actually fell asleep because the gathering time was very early this morning. So when I woke up again, I was very surprised that when I looked out of the window, we were still on the runway and had not taken off.”
The affected pilgrims had booked their trips with Hahnemann Travel and Tours, TM Fouzy Travel and Tours, and Shahidah Travel and Tours. A spokesman from Hahnemann Travel confirmed that the agency was aware of the incident and had been informed about the mechanical error by the airline. The passengers were offered coupons and complimentary breakfast as compensation.
The pilgrims have been informed to return to the airport at midnight to take the rescheduled flight at 3am on Saturday. Saudi Arabia allocates 900 places for Singaporean pilgrims to perform the haj every year, and 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.
