Libyan Pilgrim Cleared for Hajj After Flight Forced to Make Two Emergency Landings

TRIPOLI/RIYADH, May 28 (The Chenab Times) — A Libyan pilgrim who was initially barred from boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia for Hajj due to a security delay linked to his surname was eventually cleared for travel after the plane made two emergency landings, local media and passengers said.

The man, identified as Amer Al Mahdi Mansour Al Gaddafi, was detained at immigration in Libya despite having all necessary travel documents, Gulf News reported. His surname — Gaddafi — reportedly triggered a red flag in security systems, more than a decade after the country’s civil conflict that led to the fall of the Gaddafi regime.

While the rest of the passengers boarded the flight bound for Saudi Arabia, Gaddafi remained at the airport, telling officials he would not leave until he was allowed to fulfil the Islamic pilgrimage.

Shortly after departure, the plane developed a technical fault and returned to Libya for repairs. A second attempt also ended in an emergency landing due to another technical issue.

Following the second incident, passengers and crew reported that the flight captain announced he would not attempt a third takeoff unless Gaddafi was permitted to join the flight.

Local authorities subsequently cleared Gaddafi for travel, and the flight departed without further complications.

“I only wanted to go to Hajj,” Gaddafi told local media. “And I believed that if it was written for me, no force could prevent it.”

Saudi officials have not commented on the incident. The airline involved has also not released a statement.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, draws millions of Muslims from around the world to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Participation is often seen as both a spiritual duty and a once-in-a-lifetime journey for many.

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