Egyptian pilgrim dies at Cairo airport

CAIRO – 20 April 2017: Dozens of Egyptian Umrah pilgrims filed reports against Saudi airlines and tourism companies for suspending their flights for more than three days at Cairo International Airport.

A 61-year-old man, who got all of his travel procedures finished, dropped dead as he suffered a severe drop in his blood circulation during his stay at the airport, waiting for his flight.

Social media users have been sharing a footage showing infuriated, frustrated and exhausted hundreds of Egyptian pilgrims filling the airport terminal.

Sources at the Egyptian airport confirmed that travel procedures of hundreds of pilgrims have already been finalized, however, insufficient planes stood in the way.

Pilgrims, including senior citizens, handicapped and children, have been waiting for their flights to the Saudi Kingdom at the airport for three days.


لأزمة تكدس المعتمرين المغادرين على متن الخطوط... من طرف youm7

A meeting, held by officials of the airport, was set to end the issue before it is aggravated.

Officials at the Saudi Arabian Airlines, Thursday midnight, contacted Cairo International Airport to inform officials about dispatching large jets to transfer as much pilgrimages as possible.

A statement by the Saudi Arabian Airlines apologized for what it described as “operating density”, which led to a delay in flights heading to Jeddah and Medina.
Extra personnel and employees were deployed at the Saudi airport to finish up all procedures for pilgrims.