October 9, 2026 — Update: a Saudia captain was killed and a parked Saudia aircraft was damaged in Thursday’s attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The airport is operating again on Friday, but several foreign airlines have extended their Riyadh suspensions.
What happened
What changed since yesterday: Saudia confirmed the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami on Thursday, October 8, and said one of its aircraft was damaged on the ground with no passengers aboard. The airline has not named the aircraft type or said how the captain died.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the airport was hit twice on Thursday. The first attack struck airport facilities and the second struck the Saudia aircraft. GACA said three Saudi nationals were killed and several people were injured.
Sources quoted by Reuters said the aircraft caught fire at a terminal stand and suffered extensive damage, Aerospace Global News and AeroTime report. Whether it was hit directly or by debris from an intercepted missile is under investigation. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed the attack.
This follows the October 6–7 strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports, which killed three people and injured 36. Al Jazeera reports the Houthis have warned airlines to stay out of Saudi airspace.
Flights on Friday
GACA said on Friday that operations had resumed. Flightradar24 figures quoted by The National show a clear improvement, though the schedule is not back to normal.
| Riyadh (RUH) | Delays | Cancellations |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, October 8 | 164 (42%) | 167 (43%) |
| Friday, October 9, midnight to mid-morning | 63 (18%) | 44 (13%) |
Cirium counted 169 of Thursday’s 378 scheduled departures as cancelled or not operated. Saudia has not published a rebooking policy or a date for a full schedule: TBA.
What other airlines are doing
| Airline | Riyadh flights |
|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | Passenger flights cancelled through January 31, 2027 |
| Air France | Suspended through October 24 |
| Lufthansa Group | Suspended through October 16 |
| Air India, Akasa Air | Cancelled through October 10 |
| IndiGo | Cancelled through October 9 |
| Emirates | Three Dubai–Riyadh flights and one Dubai–Dammam flight cancelled on October 9 |
| Etihad | Eight Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flights cancelled: six on October 9, two on October 10 |
| flydubai | Riyadh and Yanbu cancelled through October 10; Abha through October 11 |
Saudi low-cost carriers flynas and flyadeal also cancelled individual flights on Friday.
What it means for travelers
- Our thoughts are with Captain Alkalthami’s family and Saudia’s crews. This is a loss for the whole airline community.
- Expect full flights through Riyadh this week. Flights are running, but two days of cancelled passengers are being rebooked onto them, and foreign airlines have removed seats until at least October 10–24.
- Most alternatives are gone. Lufthansa Group, Air France, Cathay Pacific and the Indian carriers are out of Riyadh for now.
- Other Saudi airports are not a sure detour. Emirates cancelled a Dammam flight on Friday and schedules across the Gulf are changing at short notice. Check each flight on the day.
Sources
- Gulf News, Saudia Pilot Killed in Riyadh Airport Attack, Aircraft Damaged in Twin Strikes
- Al Jazeera, Saudi Arabia reopens Riyadh airport after Houthi attack kills three
- Aerospace Global News, Saudia aircraft destroyed and pilot killed in Riyadh Airport attack
- AeroTime, Saudia pilot killed in Riyadh airport attack
- The National, Riyadh airport flights broadly back to normal after days of disruption
- Gulf News, UAE Flights Update: Emirates, Etihad Cancel Riyadh Services Amid Regional Disruptions
- Gulf Business, Lufthansa, Indian airlines suspend flights to Riyadh after Houthi attacks
- TravelMole, Riyadh airport chaos as airlines suspend flights after Houthi attack
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