A loud explosion was heard at Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, an eyewitness and people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The blast came amid a fresh escalation in missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, just two days after an earlier strike on the airport reportedly killed three people.
Saudi government officials and the country’s civil aviation authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday’s explosion.
King Khaled International Airport advised passengers to contact their airlines and check the latest flight updates before leaving for the airport.
Airlines change schedule
Several airlines have changed their schedules amid the security situation. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways cancelled multiple flights connecting their hubs with Riyadh, with some cancellations extending until Monday.
The latest explosion follows attacks on Riyadh airport earlier in the week that killed three people, injured several others and damaged an aircraft belonging to Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier.
The attacks have led several airlines to suspend or cancel services to the Saudi capital. The disruption comes shortly before Riyadh is scheduled to host major energy and investment conferences.
Air India extends cancellation
Air India has extended the cancellation of its flights to and from Riyadh until October 15, 2026, citing the evolving situation in the region, sources told Hindustan Times.
The airline said affected passengers would be offered a full refund if they cancel their bookings. It added that it was closely monitoring developments and assessing the situation.
(With inputs from Reuters)
