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More than 250 passengers booked on IndiGo’s Jeddah–Hyderabad service were left stranded at King Abdulaziz International Airport after flight 6E68 was cancelled this week, highlighting the growing disruption on routes between Saudi Arabia and India.
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Overnight ordeal for Hyderabad-bound travelers
According to published coverage from regional news outlets, over 250 passengers waiting to return to Hyderabad have been stuck in Jeddah for around 28 hours after IndiGo’s flight 6E68, scheduled to depart at 10:55 p.m. local time on Sunday, October 11, was cancelled at short notice.
Reports indicate that many among the stranded group are Umrah pilgrims from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh who had completed their pilgrimage and were due to fly back to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Images shared via local media depict passengers seated on the floor of the terminal with their luggage, waiting for clarification on alternative travel arrangements.
Flight-tracking data for 6E68 on recent days shows the regular scheduled timing between Jeddah and Hyderabad at 22:55 local time from King Abdulaziz International Airport and arrival around 07:10 the following morning in Hyderabad, underscoring how the abrupt cancellation disrupted a routine overnight service that many pilgrims rely on.
Some passengers reportedly contacted the Indian consular mission in Jeddah seeking help. Publicly available information shows they were advised to coordinate with their tour operators or to explore other flight options, leaving many travelers frustrated as they weighed the cost of last-minute alternatives.
Security situation triggers wider Saudi flight suspensions
The incident comes as Indian carriers adjust their schedules in response to a deteriorating security environment affecting Saudi airspace. Recent travel advisories and media reports show IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air suspending or cancelling flights to and from key Saudi cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah.
IndiGo has publicly announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah–Hyderabad services, until at least October 24, 2026. The airline has cited the evolving security situation and operational constraints, while stating that passenger and crew safety remains its priority.
Prior to the latest advisory extending the suspension window, Indian broadcasters reported that IndiGo and other carriers had initially halted Saudi operations until October 17. The extended end date suggests airlines expect continued uncertainty over airspace and airport conditions, forcing them to keep daily schedules under review.
Earlier this year, IndiGo detailed in a network update that Jeddah–Hyderabad flights 6E0067 and 6E0068 were planned as daily services, subject to regulatory clearances and operational conditions. The current suspensions, combined with the Jeddah airport disruption, have effectively paused that key link for South Indian passengers, especially religious travelers and expatriate workers.
Impact on Umrah traffic and South Indian diaspora
The cancellation of 6E68 and related schedule changes have had an outsized impact on pilgrims and migrant workers who often travel on tight itineraries and limited budgets. Saudi Arabia remains a major gateway for Umrah and for employment-linked travel from southern states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is a significant departure and arrival point for Umrah traffic, offering connections to Jeddah and Madinah. When a direct Jeddah–Hyderabad service is grounded, passengers may be forced to route via alternate hubs such as Dubai, Doha or Muscat, often at higher fares and with longer transit times.
Regional press coverage notes that tour operators organizing group pilgrimages were particularly affected by the 6E68 cancellation, as large parties traveling together found it difficult to secure replacement seats at short notice. Some travelers reportedly chose to wait in Jeddah in the hope of rescheduled services, while others searched for any available seats on different airlines to avoid overstaying visas or extension costs.
There are also ripple effects for return journeys from India. Travelers with outbound tickets from Hyderabad to Jeddah on IndiGo in the coming days are being advised through public advisories and airline announcements to check their booking status and consider refunds or rebooking on alternative carriers while Saudi-bound services remain suspended.
What affected passengers are being offered
IndiGo’s public statements regarding the broader Saudi suspension indicate that passengers on cancelled Saudi routes, including Jeddah–Hyderabad, are being offered a full refund. The airline has asked customers to verify the status of their bookings via its website, mobile app or customer contact channels before heading to the airport.
While individual accounts from the Jeddah terminal describe long waits and uncertainty, there is no single consolidated public document detailing the specific assistance offered to those stranded on flight 6E68. However, recent guidance from India’s civil aviation regulator on cancellations requires airlines operating international services from Indian airports to provide options such as rebooking, refunds and basic facilities in cases of significant disruption, subject to the cause of cancellation and applicable rules.
Publicly available advisories from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation during previous Middle East disruptions have emphasized that airlines should maintain transparent communication, publish real-time updates and coordinate with Indian missions abroad to assist stranded passengers where possible. In earlier crises, IndiGo has operated special relief flights from Jeddah to multiple Indian cities, though as of mid-October 2026 there is no official announcement of comparable extra services tied specifically to the current Jeddah–Hyderabad cancellations.
Travelers affected by the suspension period through October 24 are being encouraged, through media reports and airline updates, to retain documentation of expenses and correspondence related to cancellations or long delays, as this may be necessary if they pursue compensation or insurance claims under the terms of their tickets or travel policies.
What travelers on the Jeddah–Hyderabad route should know now
For passengers with upcoming travel between Jeddah and Hyderabad, publicly available information as of October 16 indicates that IndiGo’s regular 6E68 service is not expected to operate until at least October 24, 2026. Schedules beyond that date have not yet been confirmed and remain subject to security assessments, regulatory clearances and operational factors such as airspace and airport capacity.
Travel news outlets and airline trackers advise passengers to check daily for updates, as schedules can change at short notice when security conditions are fluid. Those with time-sensitive travel, including pilgrims nearing the end of their visas, may wish to explore alternative routings via other Gulf or Middle East hubs served by Indian carriers or international airlines that continue to operate.
Industry observers note that demand for seats on remaining routes to India from Saudi Arabia has risen sharply during the suspension period, which can push up fares and reduce availability, especially in the economy cabin. Travelers are therefore being urged in open advisories to book confirmed alternatives rather than relying on stand-by lists when visas or work start dates are at stake.
With security reviews ongoing and airlines adjusting their networks accordingly, the experience of the 250 passengers left waiting in Jeddah illustrates the wider uncertainty facing India–Saudi Arabia air links this season. Until stability returns and regular schedules are restored, travelers on the Jeddah–Hyderabad corridor will likely have to plan with extra caution, monitor advisories closely and allow greater flexibility in their itineraries.