What happened at Riyadh’s airport on Saturday
A missile struck the passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, leaving many people wounded and forcing the closure of Saudi Arabia’s busiest international gateway.
The missile hit Terminal 3 directly, according to Saudi officials. The Riyadh airport missile strike forced the terminal’s evacuation, and the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority suspended all operations at the airport while damage was assessed. Flights to Riyadh were diverted or cancelled across the board.
It is the third attack on the airport in a single week, a sharp escalation in the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.
Chaos inside Terminal 3
The eyewitness reported hearing an explosion and then seeing multiple people lying injured on the ground inside the airport. More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing to the facility, and a helicopter later hovered over the airport while all commercial traffic stopped.
Several ambulances and helicopters carried the wounded to King Fahad hospital in Riyadh, officials said.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed that every flight bound for Riyadh had been diverted or cancelled. The last commercial aircraft landed at 2:05 pm local time; the last departure was at 1:39 pm. One passenger said his flight was diverted to Dammam, and he had to take a taxi back to the capital.
The airport’s management told passengers to check their flight status with their airlines directly, but gave no immediate explanation for the disruption.
Riyadh airport missile strike: airlines ground flights
Kuwait Airways cancelled its flights to and from the Saudi capital, citing the airport’s closure over the “security situation”. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways had already cancelled multiple flights between their hubs and Riyadh earlier in the week, with some cancellations stretching into Monday.
Riyadh is due to host major energy and investment conferences shortly. Organisers said on Saturday that the events would go ahead as planned.
The US, British, Canadian, German and Irish embassies all warned their citizens to avoid the airport, describing a “serious incident” and “ongoing military activity”. US President Donald Trump was asked about the attacks on Saturday. “It’s not good,” he told reporters. “I’m not happy.”
Third attack in one week
Saturday’s strike follows two earlier attacks this week that have already shaken confidence in Saudi air travel.
On Thursday, a missile attack killed three people, including a pilot for the flag carrier Saudia, and destroyed a passenger jet on the ground. An earlier attack this week killed a Sudanese national. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks and have declared Saudi airspace a zone of military operations. There was no immediate Houthi statement on Saturday’s strike.
The escalation follows a major military offensive launched by the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which in turn was a response to the Houthis’ campaign against Saudi targets. The renewed fighting has spilled far beyond the Yemeni border, with airports in Riyadh and several southern Saudi cities now in the line of fire.
What this means for Pakistan
Pakistan has deep stakes in Saudi security. The country has reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security at the UN Security Council (read the full story), calling the Houthi attacks a grave threat to regional peace. Under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have been planning urgent talks between their military chiefs as the Saudi-led coalition steps up its Yemen operation. Thousands of Pakistanis live and work in the kingdom, and Riyadh is one of the busiest destinations for Pakistani travellers. US President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the airport attacks (read the full story).
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Riyadh airport on October 10?
A missile struck Terminal 3 of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, wounding many people. The terminal was evacuated and Saudi authorities closed the airport while damage was assessed.
Which airlines cancelled flights to Riyadh?
Kuwait Airways cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, while Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways had already cancelled multiple flights earlier in the week. Flight-tracking data showed all incoming flights were diverted or cancelled.
How many attacks have hit Riyadh airport this week?
Saturday’s strike is the third attack on the airport in one week. A Thursday attack killed three people, including a Saudia pilot, and destroyed a passenger jet; an earlier attack killed a Sudanese national.
