Pilot among 3 Saudi nationals killed in attacks on Riyadh airport, authorities say

Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said on Friday that three Saudi nationals ​were killed and several people were injured in ‌two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday.

In a statement on X, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said the ​first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second ​struck an aircraft belonging to Saudi state carrier Saudia.

The ⁠injuries ranged from minor to severe, and the attacks ​caused material damage, it said, adding that airport operations had ​resumed and air traffic had returned to normal.

Separately, the kingdom’s national carrier confirmed that a Saudia Airlines pilot was killed, and an aircraft was damaged at Riyadh airport.

“It is with profound sadness that Saudia announces the passing of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami,” the Saudi flag-carrier said in a statement, citing an “incident” at King Khalid International Airport.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also temporarily suspended its flight operations to Riyadh, citing the “situation in the Middle East”. PIA’s decision follows similar moves by several other airlines, including Lufthansa Group and three Indian carriers, which suspended flights to Riyadh on Thursday. A Lufthansa spokesperson told Reuters that the German group’s airlines would suspend flights to the Saudi capital until October 16, citing “current developments in the Middle East”. India’s largest airline, IndiGo, said it had cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh until Oct 9. Air India and Akasa Air also told Reuters that they had cancelled flights to and from the Saudi capital until October 10. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Thursday they had attacked the airport with two cruise missiles. The group also ​said it had targeted an airport in the southwestern city ​of Najran, a claim Saudi authorities have not confirmed, and an airbase ‌in ⁠Khamis Mushait with ballistic missiles.