Arrange special flights to bring back Umrah pilgrims: Owaisi urges Centre
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AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has urged the Indian government to arrange special flights for 4,000 Umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims are currently stuck in Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah due to attacks on aviation infrastructure and lack of airline clearances.
Urgent Intervention Required for Stranded Umrah Pilgrims
On October 22, 2026, AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi made an urgent appeal to the Indian Union government to organize special evacuation flights for approximately 4,000 Indian citizens currently stranded in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims, who had traveled to perform Umrah, find themselves trapped in the cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah following severe disruptions to aviation infrastructure in the region.
The Crisis of Stranded Pilgrims
The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that many of these pilgrims belong to economically weaker sections of society. Having exhausted their financial resources for the pilgrimage, these individuals are now unable to afford the high costs of purchasing new tickets on alternative Saudi Arabian airlines. Mr. Owaisi noted that the original travel arrangements—managed via IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India—have collapsed, leaving the travelers in a precarious state without adequate support or return options.
Accountability and Abandonment
A significant factor contributing to this humanitarian crisis is the alleged abandonment of these pilgrims by travel agents. According to Mr. Owaisi, the agents who facilitated these trips have failed to provide necessary assistance or alternative travel arrangements, effectively leaving thousands of elderly and vulnerable pilgrims to fend for themselves in a foreign country during a period of instability.
Regulatory Hurdles and Aviation Infrastructure
The crisis is further complicated by regulatory bottlenecks. Reports indicate that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not granted the necessary permissions for Indian carriers such as IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India to operate evacuation flights into the affected regions. This administrative stalemate has directly hindered the ability of these airlines to retrieve their passengers from the conflict-affected zones.
Broader Implications and Future Trends
This incident highlights the urgent need for a more robust consular protocol for large-scale religious pilgrimages. As geopolitical tensions continue to threaten aviation infrastructure, the reliance on private travel agents without secondary government-backed contingency planning poses a recurring risk for thousands of Indian pilgrims annually. Moving forward, the government may need to implement stricter oversight on travel agencies specializing in religious tourism to ensure they are held liable for the safety and return of their clients.
Conclusion
The appeal by Mr. Owaisi serves as a critical call to action for the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. With 4,000 lives currently in limbo, the priority remains the immediate coordination between the Indian government and Saudi authorities to secure flight paths and ensure the safe repatriation of these citizens to their homes in India.
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