Saudia pilot among three killed in Houthi-claimed attacks on Riyadh airport
In short
Three Saudi nationals were killed and several people injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said. One attack targeted airport facilities and the other struck a Saudia aircraft; Saudia captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami was among the dead. Yemen's Houthis said they hit the airport with two cruise missiles, and the UAE condemned the attacks.
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Three Saudi nationals were killed and several people were injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Friday in a statement on X, Emirates 24|7 reported. The authority said the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an aircraft belonging to Saudi state carrier Saudia. The National described them as missile attacks that hit a Saudia aircraft and airport facilities. [ 3 , 4 ]
An airline captain named Hamoud Ali Alkalthami was among those killed, The National reported. Gulf News reported that Saudia said one of its pilots was killed in the attack, and that the airline named the captain and honoured his service. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
GACA said the injuries ranged from minor to severe and that the attacks caused material damage. It said it was continuing to coordinate with the relevant security authorities to assess the damage and take all necessary measures to protect passengers and staff. According to Emirates 24|7, GACA said airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal. The National reported that services were gradually returning to normal on Friday after days of delays and cancellations, with flights initially suspended on Wednesday morning after Houthi attacks and disruption continuing into Thursday. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they had attacked the airport with two cruise missiles. The group also said it had targeted an airport in the south-western city of Najran, a claim Saudi authorities have not confirmed, and launched ballistic missiles at an airbase in Khamis Mushait. The casualties came after Saudi authorities said on Wednesday that three people were killed in earlier strikes this week on Riyadh airport and Abha airport. [ 3 , 4 ]
On Thursday, the kingdom said it would "punish" the Houthis, The National reported. "The brutal attacks by the terrorist Houthi militia on civilians and civilian objects in the kingdom … will not go unpunished," said coalition spokesman Maj Gen Turki Al Malki, adding that the coalition's joint forces had destroyed dozens of Houthi military targets across Yemen. The National also reported that debris from an intercepted ballistic missile caused damage to civilian areas in the capital, and that Saudi Arabia has been attacked repeatedly after the Houthis made advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast, with the Yemeni government launching a counter-offensive supported by coalition strikes. [ 4 ]
The UAE strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport and the Saudia aircraft, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. Gulf News reported that the UAE expressed solidarity. [ 6 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The attacks hit an airport in the Saudi capital and an aircraft of the state carrier Saudia, after days of flight delays and cancellations at the airport, according to The National. The coalition said the attacks would not go unpunished, and the UAE issued a condemnation.
Key facts
- GACA said three Saudi nationals were killed and several people injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport on Thursday. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The first attack targeted airport facilities and the second struck a Saudia aircraft, GACA said. [ 3 ]
- Airline captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami was among those killed. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Yemen's Houthis said they attacked the airport with two cruise missiles. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The Houthis also said they targeted an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait; Saudi authorities have not confirmed the Najran claim. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Saudi authorities said on Wednesday that three people were killed in earlier strikes this week on Riyadh airport and Abha airport. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The UAE condemned the attacks on King Khalid International Airport and the Saudia aircraft. [ 6 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Three Saudi nationals were killed in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. [ 3 , 4 ]
- A Saudia aircraft was hit in the attacks. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- A Saudia pilot was among those killed. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Houthis said they attacked the airport with two cruise missiles. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The UAE condemned the attacks. [ 6 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Houthis struck an airport in Najran. The Houthis claimed it, but Saudi authorities have not confirmed it.
- How many people were injured. GACA said several people were injured without giving a number.
- Whether airport operations are fully back to normal. Emirates 24|7 reported GACA saying air traffic had returned to normal, while The National reported services were gradually returning to normal on Friday.
- The extent of the damage. GACA said it was still assessing the damage with security authorities.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Gulf News reports Saudi civil aviation confirmed a Saudia plane was damaged in the attacks. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News reports Saudia said a pilot was killed in the airport attack. [ 2 ]
- Emirates 24|7 reports GACA said three Saudi nationals were killed in the attacks. [ 3 ]
- The National reports the captain killed was Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. [ 4 ]
- Gulf News reports Saudia named the captain killed and honoured his service. [ 5 ]
- WAM reports the UAE strongly condemned the attacks. [ 6 ]