ع
The General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a statement confirming that the first attack on October 8 targeted airport facilities at King Khalid International Airport while the second struck a Saudia aircraft on the ground. The strikes resulted in the deaths of three Saudi nationals along with injuries ranging from minor to severe among citizens and residents of various nationalities. Some material damage occurred but air traffic returned to normal after a temporary shutdown, according to the authority.
Saudia Airlines identified one of those killed as Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. “It is with profound sadness that Saudia announces the passing of Captain Hamoud Ali al-Kalthami who lost his life on Thursday October 8 2026 in the incident at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh” the carrier said in its own statement. The plane sustained damage but carried no passengers at the time of the strike and the airline offered condolences to the captain’s family.
Yemen’s Houthi group asserted responsibility through its military spokesman claiming the use of two ballistic missiles against the Riyadh facility. The group added that it had targeted Najran airport near the Saudi border and the Khamis Mushait air base in the same operation. Saudi Arabia has not verified the claims regarding those additional sites though a coalition spokesperson warned that attacks on civilians would face a firm response.
These fatalities follow three earlier deaths from Houthi-claimed strikes on Saudi airports earlier in the week the civil aviation authority had detailed. Two people were killed with 28 others wounded at Abha International Airport on October 6 while one more died at King Khalid airport the next day. The Saudi-led coalition reported destroying three Houthi missile launch platforms in retaliation according to its public statements.
Multiple carriers cancelled or delayed flights at the Riyadh hub in the immediate aftermath with Saudia Egyptair Indigo and Air India among those affected. Singapore Airlines deferred the start of its new route until March 2027 and Philippine Airlines halted services to the capital at least through October 11. The airport advised all travellers to check with airlines before heading to the terminal as diplomats and international schools in the city took safety precautions.
The International Organization for Migration reported that more than 200,000 people have been displaced since fighting intensified in early September with nearly all of the cases occurring after September 1. The figure spans 10 governorates and has prompted urgent calls for increased funding to address needs for food and shelter. The Saudi-led coalition has continued operations against Houthi positions in Taiz and along the Red Sea coast in response to the cross-border attacks.
