Haj pilgrims scheduled to leave for Jeddah on September 17 had the worst beginning of the journey of their life time when the flight was cancelled for reasons which is being withheld apparently to save skin of the airliner that was supposed to take the pilgrims to Jeddah.
According to sources, the flight scheduled to leave on Wednesday evening failed to take off because of the crew members were in an inebriated condition. However, the Haj Committee rubbished the charges and instead pointing to other reasons although half-heartedly.
“Dynamic Airways (the carrier) had some issues regarding international flying norms and that is the reason we have been told for cancellation of the flight,” said Secretary of Haj Committee Nurul Hoda.
The cancelled flight was rescheduled to take off on the evening of September 18 but the actual matter was brushed aside under carpet as the representatives of Air India echoed the stand of Haj Committee. The Indian flight operator has hired Dynamic Airways to fly pilgrims to Saudi Airways, said Hoda.
“Whatever Haj Committee is saying is correct,” tersely replied a representative of Air India at Ranchi office.
Ironically, the committee not only pleaded ignorance about the actual cause of delay but also claimed to be unaware of the whereabouts of passengers. The committee usually keeps track of pilgrims going on Haj but in this case they passed the buck on Air India.
“They (pilgrims) are not at Haj House. They had boarded the flight so now Air India is taking care of them. They (Air India) must have kept them in a hotel,” added the Secretary of Haj Committee.
But the news of unruly staff of the carrier has agitated Muslim community after the pilgrims had reportedly expressed their unhappiness over the postponed flight. Members of the community consider the behavior as an insult to the sentiments of the pilgrims.
“This is not how you treat those who left everything to go on Haj. The holiest journey should not be deferred and the flight operator has a moral obligation to ensure that people flying the pilgrims at least stick to the flying norms set by the company,” said Sheikh Allauddin of Jamshedpur.