KHUJAND, September 24, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A charter flight Khujand-Mashhad (Iran) operated by Tajik national air carrier TajikAir has got delayed for two days and some passengers have needed medical aid, Asia-Plus has learned from administration of the Khujand international terminal.  

The flight was supposed to be operated on September 23 at 7:00 a.m. but the flight was delayed.   Passengers on this flight are 80 residents of the Sughd province, who want to perform Umrah (a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims that can be taken at any time of the year).   From Iran , they were supposed to fly to Jeddah , Saudi Arabia .   

Umrah is sometimes called the ''minor pilgrimage'' or ''lesser pilgrimage'', the Hajj being the ''major'' pilgrimage and which is compulsory for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it.   According to some schools of Islamic thought, the Umrah is not compulsory but highly recommended.    

“The passengers include elderly people and some of them needed medical aid,” the source said, noting that the air carrier did not provide any information about the reason for delay.  

The Terminal administration has informed the Sughd regional transportation prosecutor’s office about the flight delay and they are currently waiting for prosecutors.     

According to some sources, the passengers paid more than 2,000 US dollars each for this flight.