Multiple people wounded in blast at Riyadh airport, say eyewitnesses

Many people were wounded in a blast at ​Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday, according to two eyewitnesses and two ‌people briefed on the matter, and travellers were evacuated from parts of the facility.

One of the eyewitnesses reported seeing an explosion and then seeing multiple people lying injured on the ​ground inside the airport. More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing ​to the airport.

The Saudi government’s media office and the Saudi civil ⁠aviation authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ​incident.

Saturday’s incident comes amid an escalation of missile strikes by Yemen’s Houthis on the ​kingdom. The airport has already been attacked twice this week, leaving four people dead and others wounded, and badly damaging an aircraft.

Flight-tracking site flightradar24 showed all flights to Riyadh had ​either been diverted or cancelled, with only a helicopter hovering over the airport ​at one point.

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The airport urged passengers to contact their airlines directly and check their flight ‌status ⁠before heading there.

Kuwait Airways said it had cancelled flights to and from the Saudi capital due to what it described as the closure of Riyadh airport because of the “security situation” there.

Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways earlier cancelled multiple flights between their respective ​hubs and Riyadh, ​with some cancellations ⁠extending into Monday.

US, UK urge citizens to avoid Riyadh airport

The US and UK embassies in Saudi Arabia urged their citizens Saturday to avoid King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following reported attacks, warning of security risks and possible travel disruptions.

“The US Mission is aware of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10 and strongly recommends all US citizens avoid this airport and surrounding areas,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

The embassy warned of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions, advising Americans to check their flight status directly with airlines and airport authorities.

It also said the US government employees in Saudi Arabia require special authorization to use the airport.

Separately, the British Embassy in Riyadh issued a similar warning following what it described as a serious incident at the airport.

“Following a serious incident at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 10 October 2026 at approximately 1500 (local time), we advise British nationals to avoid King Khalid International Airport until the airport is secure and to monitor the advice of the Saudi authorities,” it said on US social media platform X.

The US Embassy also reiterated existing travel restrictions for American government personnel in Saudi Arabia.

Employees are prohibited from traveling within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of the Yemen border because of security risks.

Special authorization is also required for travel to the provinces of Jizan, Asir and Najran, as well as the cities of Qatif, Yanbu and Taif.

Houthi attacks on Thursday and earlier in the week had already prompted a number of carriers to suspend ​or cancel services to the Saudi capital, shortly before Riyadh ​is due ⁠to host major energy and investment conferences.

Organisers of those conferences said on Saturday they would go ahead as planned, and they sought to reassure attendees of their security.

The ⁠Houthis have ​said airliners should avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it ​a zone of military operations after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an offensive against the group ​earlier this month.