By GARBA MUHAMMAD

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has intervened into the recent delay of the Kwara State pilgrims airlift due to technical problem detected before the take-off of Madinah bound Azman aircraft from Ilorin airport, Kwara State.

Competent sources at the commission and airport officials told journalists that the pilgrims were supposed to be airlifted by Air Peace, but Air Peace hired Azman for the operation on their behalf.

“Max Air that carried out the rescue operation has departed Ilorin with all the pilgrims around 3am to Madina.

“The rescued flight has landed by 11am at Medinah international Airport with 286 pilgrims and 10 officials today (Saturday)”, the sources said.

Also senior officials of NAHCON, when contacted on phone, also confirmed the rescued flight by Max Air.

The officials said the Chairman of the commission Malam Jalal Ahmed Arabi concluded with Max air to do the rescue of the Ilorin pilgrims from the Azman aircraft that was discovered to have the technical fault before take-off.

According to the NAHCON officials, the airline (Max Air) promised to station an aircraft by before midnight

“They departed around 3am in the night and arrived Madinah by 11am, Saturday June 8th, 2024.

“What happened was that, the pilgrims were supposed to be airlifted by Air Peace. But Air Peace hired Azman for the operation on their behalf,” the officials said.

The Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara, when contacted said the intervention of the Chairman of the Commission also led to the airport to remain open until the Max Air rescue aircraft departed.

“The pilgrims were screened as usual and boarded the Azman aircraft for takeoff when the ground crew noticed a technical problem.

“The Ilorin airport is a daytime operating airport. So, the Chairman had to also intervene so that Max air rescue aircraft can take off by 3am. The aircraft has landed safely with the pilgrims since morning around 11am in Madina,” she added.

Abdulrazak Salihu, one of the pilgrims in the rescued aircraft, while narrating his experience said: “Alhamdulillahi! We should be counting ourselves lucky that we did not takeoff on a faulty plane.

“Many of us later understand the reason we were asked to disembark was for our own safety. We are finally in Madinah today in the morning. We thank the Nigerian Hajj Commission for promptly sending another aircraft that brought us safely.”

Hajiya Habibatu Muritala also thanked the commission, the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the airport authorities for detecting the fault before take off and promptly bringing another aircraft in less than 24 hours that brought them to Madinah.

"Our officials explained to us after we were asked to disembark and wait for another airplane. Some of our people didn't understand what has happened, until some of us explained to them."

The spokesperson of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Hajiya Jumoke Jimoh, could not be reached and has not responded to text message sent to her phone number as at the time of filing this report.

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