An attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309 others on Saturday, October 10, 2026, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, as authorities blamed Yemen’s Houthi rebels and airlines disrupted flights to and from the Saudi capital.
The aviation authority said the dead included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. The 309 injured included people in critical condition, with casualties taken to several hospitals for treatment.
Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition forces, said the Houthis had carried out the attack and targeted a passenger terminal at the airport. He warned that the coalition would respond decisively, raising concerns about further military action as the conflict involving the Houthis continues to affect regional security.
Al-Maliki said on Sunday that coalition forces had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Al-Kharj Governorate. He later reported that a drone had also been intercepted and destroyed in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
The attack prompted a warning from US President Donald Trump, who said Washington was considering whether to join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump said the administration had only recently learned of the latest attack and would make a decision quickly.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the incident, describing it as a “dangerous escalation.” She warned that actions by groups backed by Iran risked intensifying regional violence and disrupting important global transport and energy infrastructure. She also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its people.
The latest attack came just days after three people were reportedly killed in Houthi-claimed attacks on Riyadh’s international airport on Thursday, October 8. The repeated incidents have added to concerns about the safety of civilian aviation and the potential for the conflict to disrupt international travel.
Witnesses described scenes of panic at King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, with reports that passengers were being evacuated from parts of the facility. Airport authorities urged travellers to check their flight status before travelling.
One passenger told Agence France-Presse that they had been waiting to board at gate 403 when they saw a strike hit gate 401. The witness said injured people were visible and passengers ran from the area.
The US, Canadian, German and Spanish embassies in Saudi Arabia advised their nationals to avoid the airport following reports of the attack. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported widespread disruption, with flights to Riyadh diverted or cancelled.
Kuwait Airways also cancelled two services connecting Kuwait and Riyadh. In a statement published online, the airline said flights KU775 from Kuwait to Riyadh and KU776 from Riyadh to Kuwait had been cancelled on October 10 because the airport was closed amid the security situation.
Several other airlines, including Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines, had already suspended services to and from Saudi airports following Thursday’s attacks. The Houthis had also warned international airlines of possible consequences if they continued operating in Saudi airspace.
Saudi Arabia has faced repeated Houthi attacks targeting infrastructure, including airports and oil facilities, amid the wider conflict in Yemen. The fighting pits the Iran-aligned Houthi movement against forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which has received support from Saudi Arabia.
The reported airport casualties and the resulting flight disruptions underline the risks to civilian infrastructure as the conflict intensifies. Any further military response by Saudi Arabia or its partners could add to uncertainty for airlines and travellers using one of the region’s major aviation hubs.
