King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, came under attack on October 8, 2026. A passenger aircraft operated by Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia caught fire and sustained extensive damage while parked at an airport terminal. On October 9, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that two attacks, one targeting airport facilities and another a Saudia aircraft, killed three Saudi citizens and injured several Saudi and foreign nationals. Injuries ranged from minor to severe.
Yemen's Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the airport. Reuters cited three people briefed on the matter as saying that fragments from an interception, or another projectile striking the aircraft directly, may have caused the damage and subsequent fire. Video verified by Reuters showed flames and thick black smoke at the airport. There is not enough information to establish the type of weapon that may have directly struck the aircraft, and the damage cannot be conclusively attributed to a drone impact.
Aviation travel outlet One Mile at a Time identified the damaged aircraft as an Airbus A320 and described it as destroyed. However, Saudia has not announced the aircraft type, registration or a detailed damage assessment, and reliable reporting has not specified the extent of damage to the fuselage, wings or engines. What can currently be confirmed is that a passenger aircraft caught fire and sustained extensive damage. Whether it constitutes a total loss or will formally be written off remains subject to confirmation by the airline or relevant authorities. Claims that two additional Airbus passenger aircraft were damaged have also not been substantiated by reliable sources.
Saudia separately confirmed that there were no passengers aboard the damaged aircraft and identified the deceased captain as Hamoud Ali al-Kalthami. The airline did not explain where the captain was at the time or the circumstances of his death. The absence of passengers therefore does not establish that no personnel were aboard or near the aircraft.
The attacks severely disrupted Riyadh airport operations. Aviation analytics company Cirium reported that 169 of 378 departures scheduled for October 8 were canceled or did not operate, representing approximately 45%. Several foreign airlines subsequently suspended services. Germany's Lufthansa Group said its airlines would suspend Riyadh flights through October 16 because of the latest developments in the Middle East.
Indian airlines also adjusted operations. IndiGo canceled flights to and from Riyadh through October 9, while Air India and Indian low-cost carrier Akasa Air canceled services through October 10. An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh returned to Delhi on October 8, and Akasa Air canceled two scheduled services. Pakistan International Airlines, based in Pakistan, also announced the suspension of Riyadh flights because of the Middle East situation.
Some airline suspensions predated these attacks. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific announced on September 28 that its Dubai and Riyadh passenger flights were canceled through January 31, 2027, with rebooking, rerouting or refunds available to affected travelers. The announcement specifies an end date and should not be described as an indefinite suspension newly announced after this attack.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said on October 9 that airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal. However, reopening the airport and resuming individual airlines' services are separate matters; the cancellation periods announced by each carrier remain subject to subsequent updates. The Houthis said the attacks were related to Saudi support for Yemeni government forces. Saudi Arabia says it supports Yemen's United Nations-recognized government in recapturing areas controlled by the Houthis.
