Attack Hits King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Civil Aviation Suspends Operations

Airport attack and suspension

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was subjected to an attack on Saturday afternoon, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation said the assault resulted in a number of injuries being counted. The General Authority of Civil Aviation temporarily suspended operational activities at the airport until damage assessment and verification of facility safety were completed in coordination with the competent authorities, with updates to be announced later.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the airport was attacked on Saturday afternoon, October 10, 2026, amid what it described as continuing brazen assaults targeting civil aviation facilities in the Kingdom. The airport administration urged travelers to contact airlines directly and check their flight status before heading to the airport, while the Saudi Foreign Ministry urged citizens whose travel was affected or whose destinations were hindered to contact the Kingdom’s missions for assistance and guidance.

Reporting for this sectionAsh-Sharq BloombergAnadolu Ajansı

Injuries, evacuations, and flight chaos

The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack on Saturday afternoon caused injuries being counted, while the exact number of injuries was not announced as officials assessed damage and safety. Reuters cited witnesses and informed sources hearing a loud explosion and evacuating passengers from parts of the airport, and the report said Saudi Arabia’s early warning system did not issue a warning before the attack.

FlightAware data showed at least 225 cancellations at the airport within 24 hours, and FlightRadar data showed all flights bound for Riyadh Airport diverting away from the airport amid a complete halt to air traffic. Kuwait Airways announced it was cancelling flights because the airport had closed due to a “security situation,” and the airport urged passengers to check with their airlines for flight status before heading to the airport.

Reporting for this sectionAl-Jazeera NetBhaskar English

Trump weighs strikes, embassies warn

U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration was studying participation in military strikes against the Houthis after the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and Trump told reporters, “We may do that. We will study the matter.”

Trump added, “We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly,” as the General Authority of Civil Aviation said it was assessing damage and determining the exact number of injuries.

The US embassy in Riyadh said it was “aware of attacks on King Khalid International Airport” and “strongly recommends” all US citizens avoid the airport and surrounding areas, while the British and Irish embassies advised their nationals about “a serious incident” at the airport.

The Iran-backed Houthis warned aviation companies to avoid using Saudi airspace, saying any aircraft operating there, except over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, is a target, and Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry said the Houthis had yet to claim responsibility for the latest attack.

Reporting for this sectionAjilAl Jazeera