RIYADH AIRPORT THROWN INTO CHAOS AS LOUD BLAST TRIGGERS EVACUATIONS AND WIDESPREAD FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS
October 10, 2026
A loud blast at Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday prompted the evacuation of travellers from parts of the facility and sent more than a dozen ambulances rushing to the scene, intensifying concerns over aviation safety as attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia escalate.
The incident occurred amid a series of attacks that have already struck the Saudi capital’s airport twice this week, killing four people, injuring others and causing extensive damage to an aircraft. The latest blast triggered fresh disruption, with passengers evacuated from sections of the airport as emergency services responded.
The precise cause of Saturday’s explosion was not immediately established. Saudi Arabia’s government media office and civil aviation authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving questions about the circumstances of the incident unanswered.
Flight-tracking data indicated that all flights scheduled to arrive in Riyadh had either been diverted or cancelled. At one point, only a helicopter was seen hovering over the airport, while the airport authorities advised passengers to contact their airlines directly and verify their flight status before travelling to the facility.
Several international carriers suspended services to the Saudi capital. Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways cancelled multiple flights connecting Riyadh with their respective hubs, with some cancellations extending into Monday. The latest disruption followed earlier suspensions and cancellations after attacks on Thursday and other strikes during the week.
The escalation comes as Saudi Arabia faces mounting security pressure from the Houthis, who have warned commercial airlines against entering Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations. Their warning followed a renewed offensive by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government against the group earlier this month.
Despite the airport disruption and growing security concerns, organisers of major energy and investment conferences scheduled to take place in Riyadh said the events would proceed as planned. They sought to reassure participants about security arrangements as international attention focused on the threat to the Saudi capital’s transport infrastructure.
The latest incident has heightened uncertainty for passengers and airlines operating in the region, where repeated attacks have disrupted commercial aviation and raised concerns over the safety of civilian aircraft. Until authorities clarify the circumstances of Saturday’s blast and the security situation stabilises, travellers have been advised to confirm their flight arrangements directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.
