A Maldivian AERO Umrah charter flight from Jeddah was grounded on Saturday after a reported engine failure, leaving returning Umrah pilgrims confined inside the aircraft for more than an hour without departure.
Flight Q2 6360, operated by the national carrier Maldivian, was scheduled to depart Jeddah at 15:00 (Maldives time) to bring Maldives Hajj Corporation pilgrims home. Passengers had already boarded when the technical fault forced the delay.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Maldivian had not issued a public statement or provided clear information to passengers at the time of publication. This lack of timely communication has drawn sharp criticism from affected travellers and their families, who say the airline’s handling of the situation shows poor contingency planning and disregard for passenger welfare.
This is not the first time Maldivian has faced operational setbacks during major travel seasons. In previous years, the airline has been accused of inadequate maintenance planning and failing to provide alternative arrangements for stranded passengers, particularly during high-demand religious and holiday periods.
Given that the Jeddah–Malé route for Hajj pilgrims is limited to special charters, such disruptions leave little room for immediate alternative travel—raising questions about the national carrier’s readiness to manage critical services.
The Maldives Hajj Corporation and the airline have yet to confirm when the delayed pilgrims will be flown home.
