Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: The First Kloter Pilgrims from Riau Have Arrived in the Country

PEKANBARU - Hajj pilgrims who are members of Kloter BTH 03 or the first kloter from Riau Province arrived in the country through Hang Nadim Airport, Batam, Riau Islands (Kepri), after from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Head of the Riau Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) Defizon said that the pilgrims were originally scheduled to depart from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, on Thursday (4/6) at 02.25 Saudi Arabian Time (WAS). However, the flight had a schedule adjustment and only took off at 03.37 WAS.

"Alhamdulillah, the first Riau Province Hajj pilgrims who were included in Kloter BTH 03 have arrived safely in the country. Although there was a change in the flight schedule," he said in a statement received in Pekanbaru, Friday.

He said the Saudi Airlines had conveyed the information to the Batam Debarkasi Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH). With this adjustment, all pilgrims can be sent off and arrive safely in their home country on Thursday at 16.53 WIB.

Kloter BTH 03 consists of 443 pilgrims and Hajj officers and there are two hajitanazul from West Kalimantan Province (Kalbar) who also joined the flight. The Kloter BTH 03 pilgrims returned intact as they did when they departed, namely 443 people.

Regarding the repatriation process to the region of origin, Defizon explained that after arriving at the Batam Debarkasi, the responsibility for the service and repatriation of the congregation is then under the coordination of the respective regional PPIH.

For Kloter BTH 03, all pilgrims came from Pekanbaru City. After undergoing a transit period and resting for one night at the Batam Hajj Dormitory, the pilgrims were sent to Pekanbaru via several flights that had been scheduled for Friday (5/6).

"After staying one night at the Batam Hajj Dormitory, the pilgrims were flown to Pekanbaru via several flights," said Defizon.