Shortly before noon on Saturday, 144 pilgrims from the municipalities of Sirte, Jufra, and neighboring areas departed from Sirte Gulf International Airport directly for the Holy Land to perform this year’s Hajj.

According to a statement from the airport, those present to see the pilgrims off included the mayor of Sirte, Mukhtar al-Maadani; the mayor of Jufra, Jamah al-Tohami; the general manager of Sirte Gulf International Airport, Omran Faraj; the deputy mayor of Sirte, Khamis al-Hussein; and the Coordination Committee’s supervisory committee.

First direct flight to Saudi Arabia in 18 years

The airport director explained that this is the first direct flight to Saudi Arabia in eighteen years, and that all necessary resources were provided by the Coordination Committee.

Scouts, the Libyan Red Crescent, and the Sirte Youth Hostel also participated in seeing off the pilgrims and facilitating their procedures, helping them carry their luggage and bags.