World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
53 Umrah pilgrims from Makassar delayed after flight to Madinah is cancelled
Fifty-three people from Makassar, in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province, were due to travel to Saudi Arabia for umrah, a Muslim pilgrimage.
Their journey was planned in two stages, first from Makassar to Kuala Lumpur and then from Kuala Lumpur to Madinah.
The first Malaysia Airlines flight operated, carrying 30 regular passengers, but the onward flight to Madinah was cancelled.
The cancellation was attributed to the impact of a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims did not travel, and there were no direct flights from Makassar to Madinah or Jeddah that day.
The airport said it was coordinating with the airline and other parties to monitor flight developments as the regional security situation continued.
A cancelled Malaysia Airlines connecting flight delayed 53 Umrah pilgrims from Makassar, Indonesia, on their journey to Madinah.
The pilgrims were booked through travel agency PT Mudah Menuju Baitullah.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH846 from Makassar to Kuala Lumpur operated, carrying 30 regular passengers.
The connecting flight, MH158 from Kuala Lumpur to Madinah, was cancelled on Monday, 12 October.
Reports linked the cancellation to security conditions in the Middle East amid Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia.
- Who
- 53 Umrah pilgrims from Makassar, booked through PT Mudah Menuju Baitullah.
- What
- Their journey to Madinah was delayed after Malaysia Airlines cancelled their connecting flight.
- When
- Monday, 12 October 2026.
- Where
- The disruption affected travel from Makassar via Kuala Lumpur to Madinah.
- Why
- The connecting flight was cancelled amid security conditions in the Middle East, which reports linked to Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Malaysia Airlines cancelled flight MH158 from Kuala Lumpur to Madinah, delaying the pilgrims' onward journey.
Airport General Manager Ruly Artha said MH846 from Makassar to Kuala Lumpur had operated with 30 regular passengers and 53 pilgrims had been delayed.
- Delayed pilgrims
- 53
- Origin airport
- Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, Makassar
- Connecting flight
- Malaysia Airlines MH158, Kuala Lumpur to Madinah
- Operating flight
- Malaysia Airlines MH846, Makassar to Kuala Lumpur
- Regular passengers
- 30
- Travel agency
- PT Mudah Menuju Baitullah
What people are saying
In response to the video circulating about the delay to the Umrah journey, we can say that Malaysia Airlines flight MH846 on the Makassar-Kuala Lumpur route operated with a total of 30 regular passengers.
Of the total 83 passengers who were scheduled to travel, only 30 regular passengers were sent to Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, 53 prospective Umrah pilgrims experienced a delay to their departure.
Sources
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