Hajj: 1,546 Pilgrims Arrive Home As Return Flight Begins

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced the return phase of the 2026 Hajj exercise, successfully airlifting 1,546 Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia back to the country.

The inbound operation, which began on June 3, signals the start of the journey home for thousands of pilgrims following the completion of this year’s Hajj rites in Makkah and other holy sites.

Data released by the NAHCON Command and Control Centre showed that the first return flight, MaxAir flight NGL267, departed Jeddah for Abuja on June 3 at 9:27 a.m., conveying 560 pilgrims from Nasarawa State.

The second flight, operated by Flynas, departed Jeddah for Kebbi State in the early hours of June 4. Flight XY9866 took off at 5:53 a.m. with 426 pilgrims on board.

Later on the same day, another MaxAir flight, NGL263, left Jeddah for Abuja at 10:54 a.m. carrying 560 passengers, comprising 559 pilgrims from Nasarawa State and one pilgrim from Katsina State.

With the successful completion of the three flights, a total of 1,546 pilgrims have so far returned to Nigeria under the ongoing airlift operation.

The return exercise is part of NAHCON’s comprehensive transportation plan for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. The commission had earlier assured pilgrims and their families that all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure a safe, orderly and hitch-free return from Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON is expected to continue the phased return of pilgrims and officials until all Nigerian participants in this year’s Hajj have been transported back home.

The commission expressed confidence that the inbound operation would proceed smoothly, building on the level of coordination and logistical planning that ensured the success of the outbound airlift exercise.