Saudia Pilot Killed and Aircraft Damaged in Riyadh Airport Attack; Flights Resume as Foreign Airlines Stay Away

October 9, 2026 — Update: a Saudia captain was killed and a parked Saudia aircraft was damaged in Thursday’s attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The airport is operating again on Friday, but several foreign airlines have extended their Riyadh suspensions.

What happened

What changed since yesterday: Saudia confirmed the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami on Thursday, October 8, and said one of its aircraft was damaged on the ground with no passengers aboard. The airline has not named the aircraft type or said how the captain died.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the airport was hit twice on Thursday. The first attack struck airport facilities and the second struck the Saudia aircraft. GACA said three Saudi nationals were killed and several people were injured.

Sources quoted by Reuters said the aircraft caught fire at a terminal stand and suffered extensive damage, Aerospace Global News and AeroTime report. Whether it was hit directly or by debris from an intercepted missile is under investigation. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed the attack.

This follows the October 6–7 strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports, which killed three people and injured 36. Al Jazeera reports the Houthis have warned airlines to stay out of Saudi airspace.

Flights on Friday

GACA said on Friday that operations had resumed. Flightradar24 figures quoted by The National show a clear improvement, though the schedule is not back to normal.

Riyadh (RUH)	Delays	Cancellations
Thursday, October 8	164 (42%)	167 (43%)
Friday, October 9, midnight to mid-morning	63 (18%)	44 (13%)

Cirium counted 169 of Thursday’s 378 scheduled departures as cancelled or not operated. Saudia has not published a rebooking policy or a date for a full schedule: TBA.

What other airlines are doing

Airline	Riyadh flights
Cathay Pacific	Passenger flights cancelled through January 31, 2027
Air France	Suspended through October 24
Lufthansa Group	Suspended through October 16
Air India, Akasa Air	Cancelled through October 10
IndiGo	Cancelled through October 9
Emirates	Three Dubai–Riyadh flights and one Dubai–Dammam flight cancelled on October 9
Etihad	Eight Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flights cancelled: six on October 9, two on October 10
flydubai	Riyadh and Yanbu cancelled through October 10; Abha through October 11

Saudi low-cost carriers flynas and flyadeal also cancelled individual flights on Friday.

What it means for non-revs

Our thoughts are with Captain Alkalthami’s family and Saudia’s crews. This is a loss for the whole airline community.
Do not plan standby travel through Riyadh this week. Flights are running, but two days of cancelled revenue passengers are being rebooked onto them, and foreign airlines have removed seats until at least October 10–24.
ZED and interline travellers lose most alternatives. Lufthansa Group, Air France, Cathay Pacific and the Indian carriers are out of Riyadh for now. If you must travel, hold a confirmed ticket.
Other Saudi airports are not a sure detour. Emirates cancelled a Dammam flight on Friday and schedules across the Gulf are changing at short notice. Check each flight on the day.
Crew and commuters based in Saudi Arabia should follow company security guidance and expect further schedule changes.