First batch of pilgrims arrive at Tamale airport
The first batch of Hajj pilgrims flown directly from the Tamale International Airport to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to perform this year’s Hajj has successfully arrived back home.
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The Boeing 747-400 series flight that touched down at the Tamale Airport at exactly 3.39p.m. yesterday was greeted with fanfare amid shouts of ‘Allahu Akbar,’ Allahu Akbar,’ (Praise be to Allah).
The historic moment was not lost on residents of the metropolis who were mostly Muslims who were in various designs and shapes of white attires as a symbol of victory to welcome their relatives and friends back home after successfully fulfilling the religious obligation of embarking on the Hajj, at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime.
This is the first time pilgrims have been airlifted directly to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and flown back to the Northern Regional capital, Tamale. The pilgrims departed on August 19, 2016.
The flight contained 500 pilgrims adorned in splendid apparels. Some of the visibly excited pilgrims, particularly the women, grinned as they disembarked from the aircraft, as they displayed the grill, snapped over their teeth.
And at the Tamale Jubilee Park, which serves as the Hajj village and the reception centre, hundreds of residents had also gathered to welcome their relatives and friends.
According to an earlier statement issued by the Hajj board, the first flight from Jeddah was scheduled to arrive at the Tamale Airport at 11a.m. but the flight eventually touched down at 3.39p.m.
In all, four flights are scheduled to arrive at the Tamale Airport, barring unforeseen circumstances.
A high-powered delegation led by the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Abdallah Abubakari, and the Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Salaam Ahmed, as well as some members of the Hajj board was at the airport to receive the pilgrims.
The minister thanked Allah for their safe arrival and commended the pilgrims for conducting themselves well during their stay in the Holy Kingdom.