A Saudia passenger aircraft was severely damaged by fire at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Thursday, 8 October, during attacks that killed three Saudi nationals and disrupted flights to the Saudi capital.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed on Friday that two attacks had targeted airport facilities and an aircraft belonging to the national carrier. Several Saudi citizens and residents of other nationalities were injured, with injuries ranging from minor to serious, according to the authority.
Emergency teams responded under the airport’s approved emergency plans, and those injured were taken to hospital. GACA said it was coordinating with security authorities to assess the damage and protect passengers and staff.
Statement from #Saudia https://t.co/2pXOpwIgTs
— Saudia Group | مجموعة السعودية (@SaudiaGroup) October 9, 2026
Cause of aircraft fire remains unclear
The aircraft was parked near a terminal when it caught fire. Three people briefed on the incident told Reuters that it may have been struck by shrapnel from an intercepted missile or another projectile. No passengers were believed to be on board.
Reuters verified footage showing smoke rising from the airport by comparing buildings, lighting structures and tarmac markings with satellite imagery. However, the precise cause of the aircraft fire remains unconfirmed.
🎥🇸🇦🇾🇪⚡ Footage from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh appears to show an aircraft destroyed in a Houthi missile attack. https://t.co/VtQOfwFCeZ
— Quick updates (@unseen_updates) October 8, 2026
Reports suggesting the aircraft could be a hull loss have not been supported by an official write-off announcement. Neither the airline nor the authorities have published a detailed assessment establishing whether the aircraft can be repaired.
Saudia separately announced the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami following the incident at King Khalid International Airport. The airline has not established publicly whether he was aboard the damaged aircraft when the fire broke out.
Lufthansa and Indian airlines suspend services
The attacks prompted international airlines to suspend Riyadh services. Lufthansa Group announced a suspension through 16 October, while Air India and Akasa Air cancelled flights through 10 October. IndiGo suspended services through 9 October.
An Air India flight travelling from Delhi to Riyadh returned to the Indian capital on Thursday. The cancellations extended the disruption to connections between Saudi Arabia, Europe and India.
According to Cirium figures cited in the supplied reports, almost half of Riyadh’s scheduled departures had been cancelled by 3:00 pm GMT on Thursday.
⚠️ Riyadh Airport is closed again. No flights have landed or taken off in the past hour. So far today, 124 flights have been cancelled. https://t.co/oIzLAYAQFO
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 9, 2026
In an update on Friday afternoon, Saudi civil aviation authorities said air traffic at Riyadh airport had returned to normal. Reuters also reported a gradual resumption of flights, including services operated by some Middle Eastern airlines. Airport operations resuming does not necessarily mean suspended international routes have restarted.
Further attacks threatened
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile attack on Riyadh airport, saying it was responding to Saudi support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The latest fatalities were separate from earlier attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports, which reportedly killed three people and injured 36 others.
The Houthis have threatened further strikes against Saudi airports and energy infrastructure, adding uncertainty for airlines operating in the region.
