Houthi-claimed missile strike hits Riyadh airport as airlines suspend Saudi flights

Houthi forces said they fired a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. AP and Al Jazeera reported that Saudi civil aviation authorities put the deaths at three, including an airline pilot, with several people injured.

The first attack targeted airport facilities, and the second struck a Saudia aircraft on the ground, according to AP reporting. AP described the attacks as the deadliest in Saudi Arabia since the kingdom and allied forces launched a major offensive against the Houthis the previous weekend. This report covers the Oct. 8 attacks and the coverage through Oct. 9.

Deaths, Injuries and Damage at the Airport

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said an airline pilot and two other Saudi citizens died, according to Al Jazeera. Saudia identified the pilot as Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. Several people of other nationalities were wounded, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Al Jazeera’s report also says dozens of people were wounded in the missile attacks, and does not say whether that covers Oct. 8 alone.

The totals are not consistent across reports. AP reported the three deaths as part of the Riyadh airport attacks. Aviation Week, citing the same authority, said the Oct. 8 strike had not been confirmed by the authority, and reported one death and eight injuries in a Riyadh strike on Oct. 6 and 7. It reported that the Saudi government said the earlier attacks on Abha and Riyadh caused three deaths.

AP reported that the first attack targeted airport facilities and the second struck a Saudia aircraft on the ground with no passengers aboard. Saudia later said airport operations had returned to normal.

Aviation Week’s breakdown of the Oct. 6 and 7 attacks was two deaths and 28 injuries at Abha, and one death and eight injuries at Riyadh. Al Jazeera reported that GACA said attacks earlier that week killed three civilians and injured 36 at Abha and King Khalid airports.

Flights Canceled
At least 124 flights to and from Riyadh were canceled by Friday afternoon, Oct. 9, according to FlightAware, AP reported.

Houthi Claims and Warnings to Airlines

A Houthi military spokesperson said the group’s missile hit its intended target at King Khalid Airport, causing damage and disrupting air traffic, according to Al Jazeera. The group said the strikes were retaliation for Saudi attacks on Sanaa International Airport and Hodeidah airport.

The Saudi statement did not identify who was responsible for the attacks, according to AP. The Houthi claims are the group’s own statements, and Aviation Week reported that GACA has not confirmed the Oct. 8 strike.

The Houthis also warned aviation companies to avoid Saudi airspace, saying any aircraft operating there, except over Mecca and Medina, is a target. Spokesperson Yahya Saree warned all global airlines that operating in Saudi airspace risks consequences, Aviation Week reported. Aviation Week also reported that Saree called it a warning for the last time.

Aviation Week reported that the UN said attacks on civilian airports violated international law. The U.S. Embassy said it was aware of the attacks and that the conflict could escalate, Aviation Week reported.

An Al Jazeera reporter said the Houthis aim to impose a blockade on all Saudi airports. AP reported that the Houthis had declared a blockade of Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

Flight Cancellations and Airline Suspensions

FlightAware counted at least 124 flights to and from Riyadh canceled by Friday afternoon, Oct. 9, after hundreds were canceled the previous day, AP reported. Flighttrader24 reported 335 cancellations at Riyadh on Oct. 8, according to Aviation Week. The two counts come from different trackers and cover different dates.

Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines were among the airlines that suspended flights to and from Riyadh and other Saudi airports for the next few days, AP reported.

AP reported that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace. The agency cited the Houthis’ ability to strike deeper into the kingdom, including Riyadh, and a greater focus on aviation infrastructure. It warned that repeated missile and drone attacks, along with air-defense activation, raise the risk of misidentifying civilian aircraft, as well as risks from overflights, interceptions and falling debris.

Al Jazeera reported on Oct. 9 that the airport had reopened, based on Saudi media reports. Those reports said airport operations had resumed and air traffic was back to normal.

None of the three reports read for this story gives a Brent or other crude price for Oct. 8 to 12.

Regional Context and What the Reports Do Not Show on Oil Prices

AP described the attacks as a significant escalation on the latest front in the Iran war, which has kept oil prices and financial markets volatile. None of the three reports read for this story gives a Brent or other crude price for Oct. 8 to 12.

AP wrote that the Houthi threat to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait endangers an alternative shipping route to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian attacks on ships have reduced traffic. The reports do not address shipping rates, inflation or central bank responses.

According to AP, the new Saudi-led offensive aims to retake territory the Houthis seized a month ago on Yemen’s western Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. U.S. support for the offensive reportedly includes intelligence sharing, target identification and planning. President Trump has not, for now, ordered U.S. forces to resume strikes against the Houthis.

Al Jazeera reported that Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to deploy troops under a mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia. The reports read for this story describe no ceasefire or talks, and the Houthis’ warning to airlines appears in Aviation Week’s report.

Photo: liton islam · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons