REPUBLICA.CO.ID, MEDINA -- The National Transportation Safety Center in Saudi Arabia (KNKT) has dismissed security concerns over an incident involving an Indonesian Garuda flight, which was scheduled to arrive at Medina's Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport on Tuesday. According to KNKT, the technical hitch will not affect the security of Saudi airspace or the transportation of pilgrims.

Reporting from the Saudi Gazette on Friday (17/5/2024), KNKT issued the clarification following media reports that a technical glitch forced the Garuda plane, which took off from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, Indonesia, carrying Hajj pilgrims, to return to the departure airport for an emergency landing.

Following the incident, Saudi Center immediately coordinated with Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee, which has handled the situation according to standard procedures.

The Saudi Transport Safety Authority has assured, that this isolated incident has nothing to do with overall air travel safety within the Kingdom or on transport arrangements for Hajj pilgrims.

An Indonesian Garuda plane with GIA code 1105 carrying 450 pilgrims from Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi (Sulsel), was forced to make an emergency landing after the engine on the right wing caught fire. The Garuda Indonesia plane carrying pilgrims of Hajj Grupo Terbang (Kloter) 5 caught fire as it had just taken off from Sultan Hasanuddin Makassar International Airport, Maros Regency, Sulsel.

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