382 Umrah Pilgrims Diverted to Aceh Flown to Kertajati

Garuda Indonesia flew all 382 umrah pilgrims diverted to Aceh onward to Kertajati Airport in West Java on Monday, Sept. 7, after their flight from Jeddah could not land at Soekarno-Hatta.

Garuda flight GA 981 departed Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar, at 1:38 p.m. The passengers were then scheduled to travel by bus from Kertajati to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

The flight had been diverted to Aceh on Sunday after the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta operations because volcanic ash from the eruption of Anak Krakatau had spread across the area. Garuda said the diversion protected both passengers and crew.

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Thankfully, today we have flown all the umrah pilgrims whose landing was diverted to Aceh because of the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta operations caused by the spread of volcanic ash from the Anak Krakatau eruption.

“Thankfully, today we have flown all the umrah pilgrims whose landing was diverted to Aceh because of the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta operations caused by the spread of volcanic ash from the Anak Krakatau eruption,” said Jufriandi, Garuda Indonesia’s general manager in Banda Aceh.

The pilgrims stayed at the Aceh Hajj Dormitory during their time in Banda Aceh. Jufriandi said the arrangement was intended to prevent panic and keep the group together, while providing a comfortable place to stay.

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We housed all the pilgrims at the Aceh Hajj Dormitory to provide services that would prevent them from panicking or becoming separated, so they could feel comfortable, as if they were at home.