Saudia Aircraft Damaged by Fire at Riyadh Airport Amid Houthi Attack Claims

A passenger aircraft belonging to state carrier Saudia was severely damaged by fire at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday (October 8), amid claims of an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The aircraft was parked at the terminal when the blaze broke out, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed. Nearly half of the scheduled flights at the airport were canceled following the incident.

According to three sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters, the plane may have been struck directly by a missile or hit by falling debris from an intercepted projectile. The fire inflicted extensive damage on the aircraft, which is believed to have been empty at the time. No casualties from the fire have been verified. Verified video footage showed dense black smoke and flames rising from the airport grounds.

Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed their forces launched missile strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport. The group also threatened further strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure, warning personnel to evacuate those areas. Saudi authorities have not yet issued a detailed statement regarding the fire or the Houthis’ claims.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated that air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh and another directed toward Khamis Mushait. Saudi officials reported that debris from an intercepted missile landed on a kindergarten and a medical center in Riyadh.

Flight tracking data from Cirium indicated that 49.7% of scheduled flights from Riyadh Airport were canceled by 3:00 PM GMT on Thursday, with an additional 31 flights canceled across Saudi airports on Friday. Flightradar24 also recorded widespread delays and cancellations at the capital’s airport.

Following the strikes, Lufthansa Group suspended flights to Riyadh through October 16, while Air India canceled operations to and from the city through October 10. Airport authorities have advised passengers to verify their flight status with airlines before traveling.

Data from Saudi civil aviation authorities show that attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports this week resulted in three deaths and at least 36 injuries, with several in critical condition. The deceased include foreign residents in Riyadh and Abha. It remains unconfirmed if Thursday’s aircraft fire caused any additional casualties.
The Houthis stated that their attacks target Saudi infrastructure due to Riyadh’s support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government. In response, Saudi Arabia continues to back pro-government forces in operations to reclaim Houthi-controlled territory, signaling a sharp escalation in a conflict that had remained largely stagnant since a 2022 ceasefire.