Operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were suspended on Saturday after an attack on the airport caused injuries, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement.
More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing to Riyadh’s international airport, and travelers were evacuated from parts of the facility after a loud blast was heard there on Saturday, an eyewitness and people briefed on the matter said.
#بيان بشأن استهداف مطار الملك خالد الدولي بالرياض، وتعليق العمليات التشغيلية مؤقتًا. #الطيران_المدني https://t.co/T4NM0WeEQA
— هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) October 10, 2026
Saturday’s incident comes amid an escalation of missile strikes by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi on the kingdom. The airport has already been attacked twice this week, leaving four people dead and others wounded, and badly damaging an aircraft.
The Saudi government’s media office and the Saudi civil aviation authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.
Flight tracking site flightradar24 showed all flights to Riyadh had either been diverted or canceled, with only a helicopter hovering over the airport at one point.
The airport urged passengers to contact their airlines directly and check their flight status before heading there.
🇸🇦🇾🇪 The latest reports from Riyadh are deeply concerning. Preliminary ESTIMATES suggest 3 to 5 people may have been KILLED and another 40 to 70 INJURED after one or two suspected Ansarallah ballistic missiles struck Terminal 3 at King Khalid International Airport. Emergency crews have rushed to the airport, with reports of medical evacuation helicopters transporting casualties to nearby hospitals. These numbers remain UNCONFIRMED as of now. Footage reportedly shows smoke coming from the airports Terminal this very moment. Source: @TabzLIVE, MES on TG / Writer: Oliver
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 10, 2026
Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways cancel Riyadh flights amid Houthi attacks
Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways canceled multiple flights between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into Monday.
Kuwait Airways said on Saturday it had canceled flights to and from the Saudi capital Riyadh due to what it described as the closure of Riyadh airport because of the “security situation.”
Houthi attacks on Thursday and earlier in the week had already prompted a number of carriers to suspend or cancel services to the Saudi capital, shortly before Riyadh is due to host major energy and investment conferences.
Organizers of those conferences said on Saturday they would go ahead as planned, and they sought to reassure attendees of their security.
The Houthis have said airliners should avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an offensive against the group earlier this month.
Following the attack, US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, was asked whether the United States planned to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis.
“We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly,” he said.
US Embassy warns Americans to avoid Riyadh airport following attacks
The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert Saturday, advising American citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport and surrounding areas following reported attacks on the airport, according to a post on X/Twitter.
Security Alert: U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia (October 10, 2026) The U.S. Mission is aware of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10 and strongly recommends all U.S. citizens avoid this airport and surrounding areas. U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization to use the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. U.S. citizens should be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions. We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport. U.S. Government Employee Travel Restrictions: U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization to use the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to travel within 20 miles of the Yemen border due to safety risks and need special authorization for travel to the provinces of Jizan, Asir, Najran, and the cities of Qatif, Yanbu, and Taif. Read more: https://t.co/uBrNoUIE3W
— U.S. Embassy Riyadh (@USAinKSA) October 10, 2026
The embassy said US government employees based in Riyadh must obtain special authorization to use the airport.
The alert also warned travelers to expect flight cancellations, airspace closures, and other travel disruptions.
US government employees in Saudi Arabia are prohibited from traveling within 20 miles of the Yemeni border due to security risks. They also require special authorization to visit the provinces of Jizan, Asir, and Najran, as well as the cities of Qatif, Yanbu, and Taif.
