This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.
Saudis will look into Egyptian pilgrims' airport crisis Egyptian pilgrims protest poor treatment by Saudi airlines and Saudi authorities promise to investigate and act
The Okaz Saudi newspaper reported on Thursday that Saudi authorities intend to form a committee which includes members of the ministry of interior and the civil aviation authorities in order to investigate the reasons which led to the Egyptian pilgrims' crisis at Jeddah's airport. More than 4500 Egyptian pilgrims have been stranded at Jeddah's airport, offered only a small waiting hall, as their flights experienced up to three days delay. The delays led to extreme chaos as angry pilgrims destroyed several of the airport's facilities and attacked Saudi airline employees. The pilgrims complained that those among them who suffered health problems were not transported to a hospital by Saudi officials who offerd them medical care only at the airport. According to the Saudi newspaper, the committee is expected to fine the airlines for violating Saudi Arabia's official passengers' bill of rights, which obliges the airlines to offer accommodation and basic needs in case of delays. The committee could also award 300 Saudi rial as compensation to each passenger. Meanwhile, Egypt's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that there have been no serious health conditions reported as a result of the crisis adding that the cases of those transported to hospitals in Jeddah are being closely monitored. Egypt's Consul in Jeddah, Maher El-Mahdy, said that the crisis has been solved in cooperation with Saudi Arabia and 42 airplanes have been assigned to transport Egyptian pilgrims back to Cairo and Alexandria within 48 hours. El-Mahdy blamed the crisis on a 50% increase in the number of Egyptian pilgrims this year.
