Moroccan pilgrims stranded in Jeddah due to long return delays

Since the beginning of April, Jeddah Airport has been in turmoil due to delays in return flights for Moroccan pilgrims, leaving hundreds stranded for extended periods under difficult conditions. This situation has been widely documented in videos circulating on social media. One of the latest videos shows a Moroccan woman expressing her frustration. «We have no money left, our medications have run out, and there’s no food or drink. About 400 of us are here waiting to return to our country, and this is unacceptable», she said.

These videos not only captured the suffering of those stuck in harsh conditions but also raised concerns about the fate of other pilgrims, especially those planning to perform Umrah.

The Moroccan consulate steps in

In this context, the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Jeddah issued an official statement confirming that it is closely monitoring the situation. The consulate noted that it is coordinating with Moroccan authorities and the airline in question, Manasik Aviation, to arrange additional flights that will ensure the swift return of the pilgrims while safeguarding their safety and dignity.

Speaking to Yabiladi, the Consul General of Morocco in Jeddah, Abdelilah Oudadas, expressed his frustration: «Why haven’t travelers who used other airlines faced similar issues—only those who flew with this company? The reason is clear, and we’ve already mentioned it in our statement: the Saudi airline Manasik».

He added that the company’s «poor reputation» has led other countries to refuse working with it since its founding in 2021. However, some Moroccan travel agencies still chose to contract with it due to the low-cost offers it presented—making them partially responsible as well.

The company does not operate its own fleet but instead relies on leased aircraft. Still, it scheduled flights from various Moroccan cities—unlike Royal Air Maroc or Saudia—in an effort to attract more pilgrims. «But they walked into a trap», the consul said.

«Some pilgrims got stuck at the airport and missed their scheduled return. Manasik Aviation bears full responsibility for that», he stressed. «We took action against the airline: its owner was summoned by the Ministry of Hajj and Civil Aviation in our presence, but the explanations he offered were unconvincing. Despite our repeated warnings about the company’s past issues with other countries, unfortunately, Moroccan agencies continued doing business with it».

The airline remains silent

Despite the consulate's efforts to address the issue, the airline has not responded, unlike in previous cases where it issued explanations for delays. On April 11, the company did release a statement explaining a delay due to a sudden technical malfunction requiring aircraft maintenance. However, attempts by Yabiladi to reach the airline for comment on the current crisis have gone unanswered.

This is not the first time the issue has sparked outrage. Earlier this month, new videos emerged showing pilgrims forced to sit on the floor of the airport in harsh conditions, further fueling public dissatisfaction and anger on social media. Many activists are calling for the companies responsible to take accountability for the pilgrims' difficult situation.