A Saudia pilot has been killed and one of the airline’s aircraft damaged during an attack on King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh on October 8, 2026, the Saudi flag carrier has confirmed.
The airline identified the pilot as Captain Hamoud Ali al-Kalthami. It also shared that one of its aircraft was damaged while parked at the airport, confirming that no passengers were on board at the time.
The announcement follows reports by Reuters that a Saudia aircraft had sustained extensive damage and caught fire while parked at an airport terminal. Sources cited by the news agency said the damage could have resulted from falling missile debris or a direct projectile strike.
The airline has not identified the aircraft involved or provided further details about the circumstances of the pilot’s death.
Houthi attacks disrupt operations at Riyadh airport
Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the ballistic missile attack targeting King Khalid International Airport on October 8, 2026. The Saudi-led coalition noted that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles over Riyadh.
The attack came after earlier strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports on October 6 and 7, 2026, which Saudi aviation authorities said killed three people and injured 36.
Air traffic at Riyadh was severely disrupted on October 8. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 169 of the airport’s 378 scheduled departures were canceled or did not operate that day, while several international carriers suspended services to the Saudi capital.