GEORGE TOWN, Nov 2 — The first group of 281 Haj pilgrims who departed from Penang International Airport to Mecca have arrived home here today.

Their arrival was welcomed by Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and members of the state Tabung Haji management.

Abdul Azeez said the pilgrims arrived at 6am today on a Malaysia Airlines flight from the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“The next flights will be on November 3, 4, 13, involving more than 800 pilgrims,” he told reporters after welcoming the group.

He said 64 flights are being used to bring back Malaysian Haj pilgrims, the last group expected to touch down on November 17 and 18.

“The Tabung Haji operations room in Mecca will end its operations on November 20 after all our pilgrims have returned,” he added. — Bernama