[REVISION HISTORY]

Riyadh airport attack and aviation disruptions

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-16 13:38 UTC → 2026-10-22 15:35 UTC · added ~~removed~~

An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, attributed to Houthi forces, caused approximately 12 to 13 deaths and over 300 injuries, leading to significant regional aviation disruptions. The Saudi civil aviation authority, GACA, has extended the closure of the airport for safety verification, contributing to the grounding of over 3,000 flights. Casualties have been confirmed among international citizens. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh reported that one Indian citizen died in the attack, with several others injured, including two in intensive care. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed that 37 Indonesian nationals traveling through the airport remain safe, though pilgrims have been advised to increase vigilance and limit non-essential travel. Flight suspensions continue to impact Umrah pilgrims. In Bangladesh, 50 pilgrims from Pabna face food and accommodation shortages in Mecca following the suspension of 86 direct and transit flights, affecting roughly 13,490 passengers. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has suspended flights to Dammam and Riyadh until October 17. In Thailand, approximately 200 pilgrims were affected; Saudia has arranged emergency replacement flights to Madinah, while some travelers have opted to return home. Indian carriers, including Air India, Akasa Air, and IndiGo, have also suspended services to Riyadh, with some routes remaining grounded until at least October 24. Airlines are increasingly redirecting flights to Madinah and Jeddah to bypass Riyadh. As conflict escalates between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 49,000 Umrah pilgrims, along with all Indonesian citizens and migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, are safe. While Houthi drone attacks have also targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, officials confirmed that Jeddah and Madinah airports continue to operate normally. The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah has deployed personnel to maintain 24-hour standby duties at airports to assist affected pilgrims.

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