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Riyadh Airport Flights Halted After Explosions; Houthis Claim Missile Attack
Explosions were heard in Riyadh on Thursday, including a blast at King Khalid International Airport that disrupted flights and prompted passengers to leave the terminal. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it had launched a ballistic missile at the airport, but the claim had not been independently verified, and Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the details.
An airport witness told The Associated Press that smoke was visible and emergency crews were sent to the scene. The witness said departing flights were halted and passengers were instructed to evacuate, leaving checked-in luggage behind. Flight-tracking data cited by AP showed no aircraft taking off or landing at the airport for a period after the explosions.
The Houthi group said its missile had targeted King Khalid International Airport. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had not immediately confirmed the latest attack claim. Separately, the Financial Times reported that the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two missiles over Riyadh. Details about the latest incident, including whether the airport sustained damage, remained unclear in the reports available at publication time.
The incident followed deadly attacks on Saudi airports earlier in the week. Saudi officials said attacks at Riyadh and Abha airports on Wednesday killed three people and wounded others. The Houthis claimed responsibility for those strikes, while Saudi aviation authorities did not publicly attribute them to a specific party in their initial account.
The latest explosions raise further concern about civilian aviation and regional security as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces intensifies. Any prolonged airport closure could disrupt passengers and airline schedules, while the Houthi threat to Saudi airspace could lead carriers to review their routes. The scale and duration of any disruption were not yet clear.
BBNN update note: This report reflects information available on October 8, 2026. Saudi confirmation and further details about damage, casualties, and flight operations were not available in the sources reviewed at publication time.
