A spiritual journey home on a Boeing 747

Join us for a “once in a lifetime” experience as we join Hajj pilgrims on the second leg of the Hajj flight back to their Homeland.

I started my journey aboard an “empty” Boeing 747-400 from Fujairah, UAE to Madinah, Saudi Arabia, the start of the second phase of Hajj flights bringing pilgrims back to their home countries after Hajj. It was a “surreal” experience having the Boeing 747 to myself on the ferry flight.

After arriving in Madinah, the Garuda Indonesia Hajj crew joined our flight and preparations began. The temperature in Madinah was too hot for the fully loaded 747 to take off on time; they had to wait for the temperature to cool down. Boarding took over an hour, with most of the passengers being elderly pilgrims who required assistance. Passengers continued to arrive, tired but happy to be heading home in peace.

The flight departed two hours later than scheduled due to a drop in temperature. The destination was Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. During the flight, many Hajj pilgrims changed into celebratory attire typical of Makassar culture. Several prayers were also held on board. Hajj tour leaders explained what they had accomplished during the pilgrimage. Pilgrims expressed deep emotion, saying they had had a life-changing spiritual experience.

It was truly an honor to accompany all the pilgrims on their journey home. It was a meaningful flight, full of great humanity and joy. Words cannot describe the feeling I had when the pilgrims began their journey home.