Dozens Of Umrah Pilgrims Stranded At KLIA As Arab Countries Close Airspace
At least 61 Malaysian pilgrims were affected after last-minute flight cancellations linked to Middle East tensions, following Iran's missile strike on a US base in Qatar.
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Over 60 Malaysian Umrah pilgrims have been left stranded for hours at KLIA after their flights to Saudi Arabia were abruptly cancelled this morning, 24 June
The disruption comes in the wake of heightened tensions in the Middle East, where several Gulf countries have temporarily closed their airspace following a missile attack by Iran on a US military base in Qatar.
According to Harian Metro, a total of 61 individuals from two separate travel agencies were affected by the cancellations.
Many were waiting to check in when they were informed that their flights, operated by Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines, had been cancelled at the last minute, reported the Malay daily.
One of the affected pilgrims, Fauziah Md Sohid, 49, from Gombak, said she only learned about the flight cancellation while queuing to check in
"We were already at KLIA when they gave us a letter from Qatar Airways saying the flight was cancelled. We were supposed to depart at 9.30am," she said.
Fauziah, who was travelling with her husband and child, added that while the cancellation was disappointing, she accepted it as a test of patience.
"Maybe there's a reason for this. If we had flown out, things might have gone differently over there," she was quoted as saying.
Her husband, Sahrudin Zakaria, echoed her sentiments, saying they were informed of Iran's missile strike earlier in the morning, but didn't expect it to affect their journey.
"It's disappointing, of course. But if going means facing danger, [it's] better we wait. I just hope the airline and agency take responsibility."
The couple's travel agency is now arranging temporary accommodation at a nearby hotel while negotiating alternative routes to Mecca, possibly bypassing the affected Gulf airspace.
Meanwhile, Rino Sofian, 48, a Singaporean pilgrim who was set to fly with a group of 37 others via Malaysia Airlines at 2.45pm, said he was informed of the cancellation as early as 3am.
"I feel for the Malaysian jemaah who travelled from afar, like Melaka, Johor, and Perlis. I can just head back to Singapore, but they've driven so far."
Despite the disruption, he urged fellow pilgrims to stay calm.
"It's a test. If we're already losing patience here, how will we cope there?"
This latest wave of flight disruptions comes amid reports that multiple major airlines have either suspended or scaled back their operations in the Middle East due to security concerns
Iran's missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was reportedly a response to US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities just a day prior.
The affected pilgrims have been told to expect updates from their travel agencies and airlines within the next 24 hours.
