Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport halted operations on Saturday, October 10, 2026, after an explosion injured multiple people. The incident led to evacuations and flight cancellations, with authorities confirming the attack and foreign embassies issuing travel warnings.
Immediate Impact and Official Response
The Saudi civil aviation authority announced the suspension of operations at the airport following the explosion, which eyewitnesses described as causing panic and injuries. A medical source told reporters that the health ministry had activated a mass call-up of doctors to handle the ‘serious emergency’, with many wounded in critical condition. More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing to the airport, and flights to and from Riyadh were either diverted or canceled, according to aviation tracking data.
Conflicting Claims on Responsibility
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, though diplomatic sources attributed it to a missile strike by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Iran-backed group has claimed responsibility for prior attacks on the airport this week, including strikes on Thursday, October 8, that killed three people and damaged a Saudi Airlines plane. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree previously stated the group had targeted the airport with cruise missiles, along with strikes on Najran airport and a military airbase. The Saudi government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Escalation in Regional Conflict
The attack follows a marked escalation in Houthi missile strikes against Saudi Arabia, part of a broader conflict tied to Yemen’s civil war. The Houthis have framed their attacks as retaliation for Saudi support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition formed in 2015. The conflict saw a temporary ceasefire in 2022, but tensions have since resurged, with the Houthis seizing strategic Red Sea coastal areas earlier this year. Yemeni pro-government forces later claimed to have secured parts of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical shipping chokepoint.
International Reactions and Travel Disruptions
Foreign governments swiftly responded to the incident. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh strongly recommended that American citizens avoid the airport and surrounding areas, while the UK and Irish embassies issued similar advisories via social media. Canada’s embassy cited ‘ongoing military activity’ as the reason for travel disruptions. Airlines including Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways canceled flights to and from Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into Monday. Organizers of major energy and investment conferences scheduled in Riyadh stated they would proceed as planned, seeking to reassure attendees of their security.
Witness Accounts and Damage Assessment
Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions and seeing injured individuals inside the airport. One traveler told Reuters they observed part of a departure gate’s ceiling collapse after an object flew across the sky. The Saudi Airlines plane damaged in Thursday’s strike had been parked at the terminal and was believed to be empty at the time, though the airline later announced the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. The airport urged passengers to contact their airlines for updates on flight status.
Broader Security Concerns
The incident has raised questions about Saudi Arabia’s air defense capabilities, as the country’s early warning system did not issue an alert ahead of the attack. The Saudi-led coalition’s ongoing campaign against the Houthis has contributed to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with hundreds of thousands of deaths reported since 2015. The temporary truce brokered in 2022 has since unraveled, further complicating regional stability.