Crew shortage disrupts Iraqi Airways flights

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Airways on Saturday said a crew shortage led to flight cancellations that left thousands of pilgrims stranded in airports as they tried to return home after Arbaeen.

“On the last day of the return trip, due to a shortage of crew, there was a disruption in the departure times, prompting the company to take operational measures to reduce delays,” read a statement from Iraqi Airways published on Facebook.

Baghdad International Airport was reportedly congested with passengers on Saturday as several flights were delayed. Footage published by users across social media platforms showed the busy airport and several claims of altercations with frustrated passengers.

Nearly 3.5 million foreign pilgrims entered Iraq for the Shiite commemoration of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein, who died in a battle fought in Karbala in 680 AD. The pilgrims come from Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait, and Iran for a symbolic 80-kilometer walk from Najaf to Karbala - both Shiite holy cities.

Iraqi Airways said that over the 30 days leading up to the Arbaeen holiday, it had successfully transported visitors and passengers “smoothly and safely, without any delays,” carrying out 60 flights daily, with an average of 1,900 flights per month.

The national airline has a poor service reputation and has been stained by scandals in the past. In 2020, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) suspended a pilot after he allowed a female model to enter the cockpit mid-flight. In July 2018, two pilots got into a physical fight over dinner while flying a Boeing 737 with 160 passengers on board. In August 2023, Iraqi Airways apologized after a bear escaped from a crate in the cargo hold, delaying a flight from Dubai to Baghdad.