55 Malaysian Umrah Pilgrims Stranded In Jeddah

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Fifty-five Malaysian umrah pilgrims under the management of a certain travel agency are currently stranded in Jeddah after their return flight scheduled for early Saturday morning was cancelled.

Pilgrim Mohd Nasarudin Kassim, 57, told Bernama that they were supposed to depart at 1 am local time but were informed of the cancellation by the airline at 8 pm the previous night.

He said the group is temporarily accommodated at a hotel in Jeddah by the airline while waiting for the next available flight.

Besides the group from this travel agency, several other pilgrim groups from different agencies were also affected and are housed at the same hotel.

Regarding the replacement flight, Mohd Nasarudin said, based on the latest information, they are scheduled to return on Malaysia Airlines flight MH159 on March 2 at 9.30 pm, although the departure location has been changed from Jeddah to Madinah.

“The situation here is currently calm and under control. The agency and airline have provided hotel accommodation for us while we wait until Monday,” he said.

Earlier, Malaysia Airlines cancelled several flights between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Doha (DOH), Jeddah (JED), and Madinah (MED) on Feb 28 and March 1, 2026, following airspace closures in parts of the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consulate General in Jeddah, in a Facebook statement tonight, said it is closely monitoring developments and the situation in the region.

“The situation across Saudi Arabia is currently safe and under control. Malaysian citizens in Saudi Arabia are advised to stay aware of current developments and remain calm.

“The Consulate General in Jeddah is continuously communicating with authorities regarding the situation, and any important updates requiring further action will be conveyed promptly,” the statement said.

Malaysians residing in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia, as well as those performing umrah and visits, are urged to download the MyWorldAlert application to monitor the current situation and facilitate any necessary assistance.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Saturday, with Israel describing it as a “pre-emptive ” against its staunch enemy to “eliminate the threat.”

The strikes followed a significant U.S. military build-up in the region aimed at pressuring Tehran to scale down its nuclear programme, and came in the wake of Iran’s crackdown on massive nationwide protests.

-- BERNAMA