Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh airport kill three Saudi citizens, including a pilot

Three killed in two attacks

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Friday that two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday killed three Saudi citizens and injured several others, some seriously. The first strike hit airport facilities and the second a Saudia aircraft, the authority said, without identifying who was responsible or what weapons were used. Saudia Group named one of the dead as Capt. Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, an airline pilot. The Saudia aircraft was damaged while on the ground with no passengers on board, and airport operations have since returned to normal.

Up to ten detonations were heard at the airport on Thursday morning, according to RTS, and smoke was seen while amateur videos showed a burnt-out airliner on the tarmac. Some witnesses told RTS that two or three other aircraft were damaged. Flightradar24 reported that the airport had closed again on Thursday afternoon, with no landing for more than 80 minutes.

Houthis claim the strikes

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed the attacks, saying they fired a ballistic missile at the airport, but provided no evidence. Their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, listed a wider set of strikes in a post on X.

Our armed forces targeted King Khalid airport in Riyadh this evening with two cruise missiles, Najran airport with a ballistic missile, and the Khamis Mushait air base with a ballistic missile, and the strikes were precise and direct, causing the interruption of air traffic at the two airports and damage to them and to the air base.

Reuters reported that Saudi authorities have not confirmed the Houthi claim about Najran airport. The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed three rocket launch platforms that the rebels used to threaten regional security. Earlier this week the Houthis warned global airlines "for the last time" about operating in Saudi airspace, which they described as a theater of their military operations.

Flights cancelled as airlines pull out

FlightAware reported more than 275 flights cancelled at King Khalid airport on Thursday, equal to 40% of scheduled arrivals and 30% of scheduled departures. Simpleflying, cited by RFI, counted 293 cancellations, or 39% of planned departures and arrivals. Lufthansa Group said its airlines would suspend flights to Riyadh through Oct. 16 "due to current developments in the Middle East." Air India suspended operations through Saturday, Akasa Air through Saturday, IndiGo through Friday, and Pakistan International Airlines also suspended flights.

Air India, which said a Delhi flight returned to Delhi "in the interest of safety," added in a statement:

We are closely monitoring the situation.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said several Indian airlines had suspended service. The airport asked passengers to check with their airlines before travelling, and displays showed delays and cancellations on Thursday before a relative return to normal on Friday.

A wider war and security in Riyadh

AP described the attacks as a significant escalation on the latest front in the Iran war, which has kept oil prices and financial markets volatile. RFI noted that the attacks came eight months after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. A large offensive launched on Monday by Saudi and allied forces against the Houthis in Yemen has, according to RFI, killed 400 people. Hostilities between the Houthis and government forces resumed in July after years of relative calm, and in September the Houthis took control of the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Riyadh, damaging a kindergarten and a medical post. Explosions were also heard in central Riyadh, prompting embassies, companies and international schools to add security measures. The US told its citizens to stay alert and barred its diplomats from going to the airport without special authorization. Pakistan said it has "a substantial number" of armed forces and resources in Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact it signed in August with Turkey.