12 Killed in Riyadh Airport Attack; Dhaka Flights Cancelled
Airspace and international flight operations across Saudi Arabia have faced severe disruption following a devastating attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which left at least 12 people dead, including two Bangladeshi nationals, and 309 others injured. According to Flightradar24, all incoming flights have been grounded since 3:00 AM local time on Sunday, October 11, with scheduled arrivals widely canceled. The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that a final decision on resuming operations depends on a thorough security review, while the European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its safety warnings.
The disruption has heavily impacted air connectivity between Dhaka and Saudi Arabia, stranding numerous expatriates and passengers. Biman Bangladesh Airlines reported that a Dhaka-bound flight from Jeddah remains grounded as boarding was halted, and all scheduled services on the Dhaka-Riyadh-Dhaka route are suspended until further notice. Furthermore, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed that at least five Saudi-bound flights from Dhaka by various carriers were canceled, and a US-Bangla Airlines flight en route to Riyadh was forced to make an emergency landing in Muscat before returning to Dhaka.
In the wake of the crisis, the Saudi-led military coalition strongly condemned the assault, blaming Yemen’s Houthi rebels and denouncing the incident as a ‘full-scale war crime.’ Officials emphasized that independent verification processes regarding responsibility and claims made by the involved parties are currently underway. Meanwhile, international aviation authorities and airlines are closely monitoring the situation as security measures remain at maximum alert across the kingdom’s airspace.
Passengers traveling to and from Saudi Arabia are facing significant delays and schedule changes that are expected to persist until conditions normalize and safety is fully restored. Airlines have advised all affected travelers to refrain from heading to airports and to stay in direct contact with their carriers for the latest updates. Authorities are working continuously to address the logistical challenges posed by the closures while ensuring the safety of all stranded expatriates and international passengers.
