Airlines Suspend Flights To Saudi Capital After Devastating Houthi Strikes On Airport
Update(1604ET): There are reports that possibly several parked aircraft were damaged or destroyed after the earlier Thursday Houthi ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. And now international reports are saying a slew of airliners are suspending flights to the city, some tentatively for up to a week:
In response to Thursday’s attack, Germany’s Lufthansa Group and Air India as well as two other carriers from the country, all suspended flights to the city.
The rebels had earlier warned global airlines “for the last time” about the consequences of operating in Saudi airspace, which they called a theatre for their military operations.
Saudi authorities issued a NOTAM, and so many more airlines are expected to cancel. Also quite significant is the US State Dept alert telling diplomatic personnel to not use the capital’s airport and to stay away from the border region with Yemen.
“U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia now require special authorization to use the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh,” the fresh emergency notification says.
Saudi Arabia: The U.S. Mission is aware of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh as of October 8 and reminds all U.S. citizens to exercise heightened vigilance. The Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including against civilian airports, and the military conflict has the potential to escalate. 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. citizens are advised to not travel near the Yemen border. Follow the guidance of national alerts released by Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense. U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia now 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. More at https://t.co/MfbGz5Fc2D
— TravelGov (@TravelGov) October 8, 2026
More emerging photos have shown extensive destruction:
مطار الرياض بعد الصيانة … https://t.co/T8yQEfNDsj
— سِرَاج (@serraaajjj) October 8, 2026
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King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has come under Houthi attack once again on Thursday, and may have suffered a hit, as eyewitnesses have told Reuters of smoke rising from an aircraft at the major travel hub in the Saudi capital. Some new, unverified shocking images emerging…
🚨BREAKING: Footage Confirms Yemen Destroyed A Saudi Aircraft At Riyadh International Airport The incident has caused airlines around the world to cancel flights to the Saudi capital. Yemen is imposing a no-fly zone in retaliation for attacks on its civilian population. https://t.co/NydL1KtCqa
— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) October 8, 2026
Witnesses were also cited in The Associates Press as having heard “several explosions” – after which an urgent evacuation notice was given.
The Houthis in Yemen have been going after airports as well as Aramco oil facilities. In two separate attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday, the kingdom’s Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport were targeted by Houthi missiles.
The AP details of the Thursday flight stoppage in Riyadh as follows:
King Khalid International Airport “closed again,” the Flightradar24 monitor said Thursday afternoon on X not long after the blasts. “Last landing 80+ minutes ago. Last take off 90+ minutes ago.”
Fire and ambulance crews deployed and smoke was visible, the witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The witness said outgoing flights were halted and passengers were instructed to leave checked-in luggage behind and evacuate. It was not immediately clear how many flights were disrupted.
Footage shows a massive plume of smoke rising from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is now the most disrupted airport in the world, Ansarallah ballistic missile attacks are becoming a daily occurrence. https://t.co/JwD3ouVNd6
— MoloMonitor 🇮🇹 (@MoloWarMonitor) October 8, 2026
The prior 72 hours has seen three civilians killed and 36 injured in Houthi-claimed attacks across Saudi Arabia. “An Egyptian and an Algerian national were killed at Abha airport, and a Sudanese national was killed at the airport in Riyadh, the agency said, with 36 people wounded in the attacks,” Middle East Eye details.
On Thursday, Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said his forces intercepted and destroyed a pair of Houthi ballistic missiles on Riyadh and towards Khamis Mushait.
As for the latest airport attack, which has reportedly shut down the international hub, the Houthis are claiming responsibility and say there was a direct hit and damage, while Saudi authorities have remained silent in the initial hours.
All of this, plus last evening’s headlines that President Trump is mulling a new bombing raid on Iran possibly before the November midterm elections, has pushed oil prices higher throughout the Thursday morning hours…
Over in Yemen, fighting has intensified in the Taiz region and in rural areas. Al Jazeera details:
Fighting is raging in al-Shamayatayn, al-Maafer and the southern and western countryside of Taiz governorate.
The Houthis are pushing into rural areas that have not seen conflict for years, aiming to open a supply route because their lines towards al-Kadaha and al-Waziiya, which link Aden, Lahij and Taiz, are nearly cut off by advancing government forces.
Those forces are moving towards al-Waziiya and the Kahboub Mountains overlooking Bab al-Mandeb.
Government forces expected a dangerous escalation over the next 48 hours after the defense minister said Houthi-held areas will be recaptured soon. Government forces reported more than 2,000 operations, including attacks, supply line cuts, repelled attacks and territory retaken.
The three deaths reported by the Saudis on Wednesday are the first civilian deaths reported in the kingdom since the conflict with the Houthis was renewed several weeks ago.
Saudis have issues a Travel Alert for King Khalid airport in Riyadh. After Houthis struck a Parked aircraft. The airport has nearly shutdown with most flights now being canceled! https://t.co/BglBkTeRXA
— Ali (@MerruX) October 8, 2026
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is likely going to press allies harder to join the counteroffensive against the Houthis in Yemen, after Pakistan and Turkey have announced defense assistance based on the Mecca Defense Pact.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 10/08/2026 – 16:04