Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Airport Strike Killed 12, Including an American; Airport Stays Closed and Houthis Renew Threat to Airlines

October 11, 2026 — Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority says Saturday’s strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) killed 12 people and injured 309. One of the dead is a US citizen. The airport was still closed on Sunday, hundreds of flights were cancelled, and Yemen’s Houthis again told airlines and travelers to stay out of Saudi airports and airspace.

This updates our October 10 story, when no casualty figure or reopening time had been published.

What is new since Saturday

• Casualties. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) put the toll at 12 dead and 309 injured, some critically. The dead are four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan, the Associated Press reported. The US Secretary of State confirmed the American death. The Egyptian victim was a flynas flight attendant.
• Airport still closed. Sources differ on the closure notice. The National and The New Arab report a notice closing RUH until at least midnight Sunday, Riyadh time. The Associated Press and Oman Observer, citing Flightradar24, say until at least 9 pm Sunday. Actual reopening: TBA. It had not reopened when we checked at about 11 am Eastern on Sunday.
• Cancellations. Flightradar24 listed 655 flights to and from Riyadh cancelled on Sunday, The National reported.
• No new airport strike on Sunday. We found no report of a new attack on a Saudi airport on Sunday. The Saudi-led coalition said a projectile landed near Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport on Saturday, and that it intercepted a missile aimed at al-Kharj and a drone over the Eastern Province early Sunday. No closure of Dammam or Jeddah was reported.
• Houthi warning renewed. The Houthis have not claimed Saturday’s strike. On Sunday their military spokesman repeated the warning to airlines, airport workers and travelers to avoid Saudi airports and airspace, and said the airports at Mecca and Medina are excluded.
• Escalation. The coalition called the attack a war crime and promised a firm response. President Trump said the US “may” join Saudi strikes on the Houthis. The Houthis said air strikes hit Sanaa, including its airport, on Sunday. No truce talks were reported.
• Riyadh schools have moved online for the week.

Airline cancellations reported Sunday

Unchanged from earlier reports: Air India through October 15, Air India Express through October 14, Lufthansa Group to Riyadh through October 16, and Air France to Riyadh and Dubai through October 24. We found no action by a US passenger airline.

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Government advice

• United States. The State Department reissued its Saudi Arabia advisory on Saturday, October 10. The level did not change: Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) → Level 3, with the Yemen border region at Level 4 (Do Not Travel). Stated reasons include missile and drone attacks by Iran and the Houthis, armed conflict and terrorism. US government staff still need special authorization to use King Khalid airport. The US Embassy told Americans on Saturday to avoid the airport and the area around it, according to CBS News; we could not open the embassy site.
• United Kingdom. The Foreign Office updated its page on October 10. It tells British nationals to avoid King Khalid airport until it is secure and says further attacks on airports are very likely. It names a heightened threat at Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu airports.
• Canada. The page we opened still reads “exercise a high degree of caution,” but its update date did not load, so any weekend change is unconfirmed.
• Airspace. We found no European bulletin newer than the October 9 revision. Tracking site Safe Airspace now rates Saudi airspace “Do Not Fly.”

What it means for airline travelers

• Do not list for Riyadh. The airport is shut, the reopening time is uncertain, and the first flights back will be full of stranded revenue passengers.
• Think hard about any Saudi airport. Jeddah and Dammam are open, but carriers are cancelling flights there too and the Houthi threat covers Saudi airspace generally. Check your airline’s embargo list before listing.
• In Riyadh now? Stay away from the airport until your airline confirms an operating flight. Follow local authorities and your embassy.
• Gulf connections. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Muscat are operating, but cancelled Saudi rotations mean fuller flights and displaced passengers. Add a buffer day.
• Register and insure. Enroll in STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad. Many travel insurance policies exclude acts of war; read yours before relying on it.

Sources

• CBS News / Associated Press, “Houthis issue new threat against Saudi airspace after deadly attack on Riyadh airport”
• Associated Press via Global News, “Saudi Arabia extends airport closure and moves Riyadh schools online as attack threats continue”
• The National, “Riyadh airport closure: UAE flight cancellations extend into Tuesday”
• The New Arab, “Saudi Arabia extends Riyadh airport closure after deadly strike”
• Oman Observer, “Flight operations at Riyadh airport suspended till 9pm”
• Gulf News, “Etihad, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia announce flight disruptions after Riyadh airport attack”
• Al Jazeera, “Yemen fighting expands as Houthis attack Saudi airport: What to know”
• ABC News (Australia), “Saudi Arabia extends airport closure as Houthis threaten more attacks”
• CBS News, live updates on the Saudi airport strike
• US State Department, Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory
• UK Foreign Office, Saudi Arabia travel advice
• Government of Canada, Saudi Arabia travel advice
• Safe Airspace, conflict zone summary