Houthi strike kills Saudia pilot, damages aircraft at Riyadh

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia on Thursday, targeting the kingdom’s airspace and oil facilities with missiles. The strikes have killed three people this week and severely damaged an aircraft.

The group claimed to have targeted Riyadh airport and warned workers to stay away from energy facilities, which it said would also come under attack.

Shrapnel from an interception or another projectile struck a commercial aircraft operated by Saudi state carrier Saudia, leaving it heavily damaged after it caught fire while parked near an airport terminal on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Saudia Airlines announced the death of one of its pilots, Captain Hamoud Al-Kalthami, following a Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport on Thursday. The airline said the attack killed three people and injured several Saudi citizens and residents.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) also confirmed that King Khalid International Airport was targeted in two attacks on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The first targeted the airport’s facilities, while the second struck a Saudia aircraft. Emergency response teams and the relevant authorities responded immediately in accordance with established protocols and emergency response plans.

GACA said the attacks killed three Saudi citizens and injured several Saudi citizens and residents of other nationalities, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. All injured individuals were taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The attacks also caused property damage.

Although the aircraft’s registration remains unconfirmed, the damaged aircraft is identified as an Airbus A320-200.

Airlines suspend Riyadh flights amid security concerns

Indian carriers Air India, Akasa Air, and IndiGo have suspended or curtailed flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.

Akasa Air has suspended flights to and from Riyadh through Saturday, October 10, 2026, while IndiGo has cancelled its Riyadh services through Friday, October 9. Air India has also cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 10.

German carrier Lufthansa has also suspended flights to Riyadh through October 16 amid the ongoing situation.

Flightradar24 reported earlier on Friday that flights were holding over Riyadh, while other aircraft were adjusting their flight paths around the airport. The flight-tracking platform later reported that Riyadh Airport had resumed operations. However, at the time of writing, flight activity around the airport still appeared disrupted, with aircraft holding and Riyadh topping Flightradar24’s list of most disrupted airports.