Riyadh Airport Attack Indians 2026: Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Suspended — What to Know Now
Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 — smoke and flames rise from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 8, 2026 after Houthi ballistic missile strikes, as all four Indian carriers including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Akasa Air suspended Riyadh flights with Air India flight AI2243 from Delhi returning to India mid-air, while Cirium data showed 49.7% of scheduled departures from King Khalid International Airport cancelled, with 293 of 747 planned flights disrupted on October 8 alone.
Quick answer: Houthi ballistic missile strikes hit King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh on October 6, 7, and 8, 2026 — killing 3 people and injuring 36 across Riyadh and Abha airports. A Saudia Airlines aircraft was damaged on the ground. All four Indian carriers suspended Riyadh flights: Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Akasa Air cancelled services until October 9-10. Air India flight AI2243 from Delhi to Riyadh turned back mid-air on October 8. Indian airline Riyadh operations resumed on October 10-11 — Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed resumption with Mumbai and Calicut services first. Lufthansa suspended Riyadh through October 16. Nearly half of all Riyadh departures were cancelled on October 8 (49.7% per Cirium data — 293 of 747 scheduled flights). Passengers with upcoming Riyadh bookings should check directly with their airline before travel.
The Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 crisis — triggered by sustained Houthi ballistic missile and cruise missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital between October 6 and October 8 — created the most significant disruption to India-Saudi aviation since the start of the Iran-US tensions earlier in 2026. For the 2.5 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, and the hundreds of thousands flying between India and Riyadh every month, the three-day crisis grounded virtually every Indian carrier serving the route and sent a mid-air Air India flight back to Delhi.
The Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 disruption has passed its acute phase — Indian carriers resumed services from October 10-11 — but the underlying security situation at King Khalid International Airport remains elevated. Saudi authorities have warned of continued Houthi strike capability targeting Riyadh, Tabuk, Yanbu, and Abha airports across the kingdom. Every Indian traveler with upcoming Saudi Arabia travel needs to understand what happened, what the current status is, and how to protect their booking if the situation escalates again.
Air India Flights To Riyadh Cancelled Till October 15 Amid Saudi Tensions https://t.co/LSajcopwpd https://t.co/kohevEvr4t
— NDTV (@ndtv) October 12, 2026
See our UAE flights disruption 2026 guide for the broader Middle East aviation context that has been building throughout 2026.
What Happened: The Attack Timeline
The Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 sequence unfolded over three consecutive days and escalated with each strike.
October 6, 2026: The Houthis struck Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities confirmed casualties — included in the eventual total of 3 dead and 36 injured across the attack series. Fuel infrastructure around Abha was also targeted.
October 7, 2026: A strike hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh directly. Saudi authorities confirmed this as part of the attack sequence that killed 3 and injured 36 across Riyadh and Abha combined. A fuel tank beside the airport burned.
October 8, 2026: The Houthis’ most significant strike of the series. A Saudia Airlines Boeing 777-300ER aircraft parked at King Khalid International Airport sustained significant damage from a ballistic missile strike. Videos verified by Reuters showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the airport. The Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced two cruise missiles had been launched at Riyadh’s airport, plus one at Najran airport and another at Khamis Mushait airbase. The group issued what it called a “final warning” to all airlines flying in Saudi airspace. This was the trigger that caused all four Indian carriers to suspend Riyadh operations simultaneously.
Scale of the October 8 disruption: According to Cirium aviation analytics data, 49.7% of scheduled departures from King Khalid International Airport were cancelled by 3:00 PM GMT on October 8 — 169 of 378 scheduled departures. On the arrivals side, 124 of 369 scheduled flights (33.6%) were cancelled or did not operate. In total, 293 of 747 scheduled flights at Riyadh airport on October 8 were disrupted — approximately 39% of all planned operations at Saudi Arabia’s second-busiest airport.
FlightRadar24 and FlightAware both reported Riyadh’s skies largely empty during the peak afternoon window — a striking visual of how severely the attacks had disrupted normal operations at an airport that handles approximately 813 flights per day in normal conditions.
Indian Airlines: Full Suspension and Mid-Air Returns
The Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 impact on Indian carriers was immediate and total — all four airlines serving the route suspended operations within hours of the October 8 strike.
Air India — cancelled until October 10:
Air India suspended all flights to and from Riyadh until October 10. The airline’s Delhi-Riyadh service AI2243 — an Airbus A320 afternoon service — was already airborne en route to Riyadh when the decision was made. Flight AI2243 returned to Delhi on October 8 and was subsequently cancelled. Air India operates 7 weekly flights to Riyadh from Delhi and Mumbai. Full refunds offered to affected passengers.
Air India Express — cancelled until October 10:
Air India Express suspended all 16 weekly Riyadh flights until October 10 — from Bengaluru, Kochi, Kannur, and Kozhikode. Flights already en route to Riyadh turned back to India on October 8. Passengers offered complimentary rescheduling or full refund.
IndiGo — cancelled until October 9:
India’s largest airline by fleet cancelled all Riyadh flights until October 9. IndiGo operates 42 weekly flights to Riyadh — the largest Indian carrier presence on the route by frequency. A Hyderabad-Riyadh service was diverted to Dammam rather than Riyadh. Free rescheduling under IndiGo’s Plan B policy offered.
Akasa Air — cancelled until October 10:
Akasa Air first cancelled its Kochi-Riyadh round trip (QP523 and QP524) on October 8, then extended the suspension through October 10. Full refunds or free rescheduling offered.
| Riyadh Airport Attack Indians 2026 — Indian Airline Suspension Summary | Airline | Routes | Suspended Until | Relief Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air India | Delhi, Mumbai → Riyadh (7 weekly) | October 10 | Full refund | |
| Air India Express | Bengaluru, Kochi, Kannur, Kozhikode → Riyadh (16 weekly) | October 10 | Free rescheduling or full refund | |
| IndiGo | All India → Riyadh routes (42 weekly) | October 9 | Free rescheduling (Plan B) | |
| Akasa Air | Kochi → Riyadh (QP523/524) | October 10 | Full refund or rescheduling | |
| Lufthansa Group | All European → Riyadh routes | October 16 | Per airline policy |
Together, the four Indian carriers represent approximately 97 of the 286 weekly non-stop passenger flights operating between India and Riyadh per Cirium data — Air India (22 weekly), Air India Express (32 weekly), IndiGo (42 weekly) being the top three by volume.
Other Airlines Affected
The Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 disruption extended well beyond Indian carriers.
Etihad Airways cancelled 6 Abu Dhabi-Riyadh flights on October 9 and 2 more scheduled for October 10 due to “operational disruption at Riyadh airport.”
flydubai cancelled flights to Riyadh and Yanbu up to and including October 10, and Abha flights up to and including October 11.
Philippine Airlines cancelled PR654 Manila-Riyadh on October 8 and return PR655 on October 10 — notably, Philippine Airlines had resumed Riyadh services only days before the attack.
Saudia (Saudi Airlines) itself confirmed its flights and operations at King Khalid International Airport returned to normal as of 6:00 PM on October 8 — though international carriers continued their suspensions beyond this.
Lufthansa Group (including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines) suspended all Riyadh flights through October 16 — a significantly more conservative timeline than the Indian carriers’ October 9-10 resumption.
Current Status: Indian Flights Resumed
The Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 immediate disruption has passed. Indian carrier Riyadh operations resumed from October 10-11.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed the resumption, stating that on the first day of resumption, three services were operated to Mumbai by Air India and IndiGo, and one service to Calicut by Air India Express — prioritising the highest-demand routes first. The Ministry noted it was closely monitoring the situation in the West Asia region and that airlines were undertaking operational adjustments to ensure passenger safety.
The Ministry also confirmed it was monitoring airfares to ensure no undue surge in ticket prices during the resumption period — a standard advisory issued during India-Gulf route disruptions.
As of October 12, 2026: Indian carriers are operating Riyadh services. However, the Houthi threat against Saudi airspace has not been withdrawn — the group’s stated “final warning” to airlines flying Saudi routes remains in place. Lufthansa’s October 16 suspension deadline is the most conservative marker currently published by a major international carrier.
What Indian travelers must do for upcoming Riyadh travel:
- Check your specific flight status directly with your airline app or website before every trip — do not assume confirmed bookings are immune to further disruption
- Allow extra airport time for possible pre-flight status changes
- Book refundable fares where available for Saudi Arabia travel until the regional situation clarifies
- Keep your airline’s customer care number saved — AI Express: 1800-123-4977, IndiGo: 6360-01234, Air India: 1860-233-1407, Akasa Air: 080-6897-3000
The Indian Embassy Advisory
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a warning to Indian nationals in the kingdom during the attack period — advising Indians to remain vigilant, stay away from areas near airports and energy infrastructure during periods of heightened alert, shelter in place if instructed by Saudi authorities, and monitor official channels for updates.
For Indian nationals living in Riyadh, Abha, Yanbu, and other cities where Houthi strikes have been claimed, the practical guidance is to follow Saudi Civil Defense alerts and avoid airport access roads and fuel infrastructure perimeters during any active alert period.
For Indian travelers transiting Saudi Arabia to other destinations — using Riyadh or Jeddah as a connecting hub — check your transit airline’s current operational status before travel. The strikes affect King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh specifically; King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah has not been a primary Houthi target in this attack series.
For travel insurance covering Saudi Arabia trips — including trip cancellation, flight disruption, and emergency evacuation coverage in conflict-adjacent situations — SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides comprehensive coverage at affordable daily rates for Indian travelers.
FAQs — Riyadh Airport Attack Indians 2026
Q: Which Indian airlines cancelled Riyadh flights after the Houthi attacks and when did they resume?
All four Indian airlines serving Riyadh suspended flights following Houthi missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport on October 8, 2026. Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air cancelled services until October 10. IndiGo cancelled until October 9. Air India flight AI2243 from Delhi turned back mid-air to India on October 8. The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed resumption of Indian carrier services from October 10-11, beginning with Mumbai and Calicut routes. Lufthansa Group extended its Riyadh suspension through October 16. Passengers affected by cancellations were offered full refunds or free rescheduling by all four Indian carriers.
Q: How bad was the Houthi damage at Riyadh airport?
The October 6-8, 2026 Houthi strike series on Saudi airports killed 3 people and injured 36 across King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, confirmed by Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). A Saudia Airlines Boeing 777-300ER parked at King Khalid International Airport sustained significant structural damage from a ballistic missile strike on October 8. Videos verified by Reuters showed smoke and flames at the airport. At the peak of the October 8 disruption, nearly half of Riyadh’s scheduled departures were cancelled — 169 of 378 planned departures per Cirium data, with 293 total flights disrupted out of 747 scheduled.
Q: Is it safe to fly to Riyadh now — and what should Indians with upcoming bookings do?
Indian carrier services to Riyadh resumed from October 10-11 and are operating as of October 12. The airport is open. However, the Houthis have not withdrawn their stated threat against Saudi airspace, and Lufthansa Group’s suspension through October 16 reflects a more conservative assessment of the ongoing risk. For Indian travelers with Riyadh bookings in October and November 2026: check your specific flight status with your airline before travel, book refundable fares where possible, purchase travel insurance that covers conflict-related trip cancellation, and monitor MEA advisories. The Ministry of External Affairs advisory for Saudi Arabia remains active — check mea.gov.in for the latest.
Final Word
Riyadh airport attack Indians 2026 — Houthi ballistic and cruise missiles struck King Khalid International Airport on October 6, 7, and 8, 2026; 3 killed, 36 injured across Riyadh and Abha airports; Saudia aircraft damaged on ground; all four Indian carriers suspended (Air India AI2243 returned mid-air to Delhi, Air India Express 16 weekly flights, IndiGo 42 weekly flights, Akasa Kochi-Riyadh); 293 of 747 Riyadh flights disrupted October 8; Indian carriers resumed October 10-11 per Ministry of Civil Aviation; Lufthansa suspended through October 16; Indian Embassy Saudi Arabia issued warning to 2.5 million Indians in kingdom; check airline status before every Riyadh trip, book refundable fares, carry travel insurance — is the complete picture for Indian travelers and the Indian community in Saudi Arabia. The flights are running again. The threat has not been withdrawn. Check before you fly.
Also Read:
- UAE Flights Disruption 2026 — SpiceJet India Delays, Air Canada Warning
- Air India Delhi Tel Aviv 2026 — Nonstop Resumes December 1
- Ebola Travel Restrictions 2026 — UAE Bahrain Qatar Entry Bans
Official Sources:
- Ministry of Civil Aviation India — Riyadh resumption statement
- King Khalid International Airport — Official
Bangkok Rain Warning October 2026: Heavy Rain Returns Tuesday, Flood Risk Elevated
Saudi Arabia Flights Disruption 2026: Etihad Cancels Riyadh to Oct 19, Jeddah and Dammam Also Hit
Riyadh Airport Attack Indians 2026: Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Suspended — What to Know Now
Thailand Itinerary Indians 5 Days: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai — ₹31,250 Cost Breakdown
Bangkok Rain Warning October 2026: Heavy Rain Returns Tuesday, Flood Risk Elevated
Saudi Arabia Flights Disruption 2026: Etihad Cancels Riyadh to Oct 19, Jeddah and Dammam Also Hit
Riyadh Airport Attack Indians 2026: Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Suspended — What to Know Now
Thailand Itinerary Indians 5 Days: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai — ₹31,250 Cost Breakdown
Aaseem Bhardwaj is a journalist, seasoned traveler and IT professional based in India. With firsthand travel experience across Southeast Asia, East Asia, Middle East and Europe, Aaseem founded Travel Man Today to provide reliable visa updates and travel news for Indian passport holders. He has personally traveled to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, UAE and Europe. Follow his travel vlogs on YouTube at @travelmantoday
Templates for Indians
