An airlift between Cairo and Saudi Arabia is continuing to ferry Egyptian lottery pilgrims back home after completing their hajj rituals.

So far 9,000 pilgrims have returned to Egypt, said Sayed Maher, Assistant Interior Minister for Administrative Affairs, Thursday.

He added that 26,444 Egyptian pilgrims are still in Mecca waiting to return home.

He added that 68 Egyptians are still at the hospitals to receive treatment but their health condition is not worrying.