UK travel warning Saudi Arabia missile attacks: Saudia jet reported destroyed at Riyadh

A Saudia Airlines Airbus A320 was reported destroyed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday 8 October, according to InsideFlyer, which cited images first published by paddleyourownkanoo.com. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the report, and InsideFlyer said it was unclear whether the aircraft was struck directly or hit by debris from an interception. For readers following the UK travel warning Saudi Arabia missile attacks have prompted, it is a report of damage to an aircraft, not only delays.

The Houthis said they targeted the airport for a second time on Thursday. “Our armed forces targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh at midday with a ballistic missile that hit its target,” said military spokesman Yahya Saree, according to Euronews. Al-Monitor reported that flights to and from the Saudi capital were severely disrupted, and the airport urged passengers to check with their airlines before setting out.

Saudia Airbus reported destroyed at Riyadh airport

InsideFlyer, in a report published at 7:18 pm on 8 October, said a Saudia A320 parked at a terminal gate was struck during a Thursday morning missile salvo. It said the images show Saudia livery on a burnt fuselage and that nobody was aboard. The report says operations were paused for hours before a partial resumption, with cancellations still in effect.

This needs careful handling. InsideFlyer is a secondary source and says it is relaying a report from paddleyourownkanoo.com, so we have not seen the pictures or any statement from Saudia. InsideFlyer itself says it remains unclear whether the impact came from a direct hit or from interception debris, and that the Saudi civil aviation authority has not issued an official statement.

Euronews gives a partial context. It reported that Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency cited “material damage” to buildings from falling shrapnel after interceptions, and that Riyadh had not disclosed any further information on damage or casualties. We cannot say from these sources which account of the aircraft is correct, so the safest reading is that an aircraft is reported lost, the cause is unverified, and the airport was plainly under attack on the day.

Riyadh flights cancelled: what the numbers show

Al-Monitor, citing Flightradar24, said that as of 10:10 a.m. EST on Thursday, 324 flights, or 41% of all those scheduled at King Khalid International Airport, had been cancelled. Around 24%, or 188 flights, had been delayed. These are rounded figures from a live tracker, and they will have moved since.

A worked example shows what that means for a passenger. Adding the two shares gives 41% plus 24%, or about 65% of scheduled flights cancelled or delayed. Working back from the 324 cancellations, the schedule that day was roughly 790 flights, so around 35%, or about 280 flights, were neither cancelled nor delayed at that point. On those odds, a traveller holding a Thursday ticket was more likely than not to face a change of plan.

The disruption follows Wednesday, when flights were halted for more than an hour, according to Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. Euronews said delays from that day continued into Thursday.

What the Houthis, Saudi officials and the coalition said

Saree also issued a wider warning on Thursday, according to Euronews, “to airlines, airports, travelers and their staff”. In an earlier post he warned international airlines “for the last time” over operating in Saudi airspace, “which has become a theatre for our military operations”, excepting the airspace over Mecca and Medina. He also told staff at oil facilities to leave areas that are targets.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two missiles fired at the capital. Spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki said forces intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh and destroyed a platform in Sana’a used to launch attacks on the city. The coalition said the “brutal attacks by the terrorist Houthi militia” on the two airports “will not go unpunished”.

Euronews also set out the casualties from Wednesday and Tuesday, citing officials. A drone attack on King Khalid airport killed a Sudanese national and wounded eight people, while the Abha strike killed Moroccan and Algerian residents and wounded 28. That makes three dead and 36 injured, matching the figures in earlier reports.

What the embassy and Foreign Office are saying

“Saudi Arabia continues to experience missile and drone attacks, targeting cities, airports, military sites and energy infrastructure,” the UK Embassy said on Tuesday 6 October, according to Anadolu Ajansı. It urged British nationals to follow the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice, subscribe to official alerts and follow instructions from Saudi authorities. It also advised people not to film or share information about incidents, and to know where the nearest shelter is.

Euronews reported that diplomats in Riyadh were told on Thursday to shelter in place in their embassies and that international schools were taking precautions. The US Mission’s alert of 7 October said the Houthis “have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including against civilian airports, and the military conflict has the potential to escalate”, according to Condé Nast Traveller Middle East.

The magazine reported that the FCDO does not advise against travel to most of Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla. It advises against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border, and against all but essential travel between 10km and 80km, an area that extends to Abha and Khamis Mushait. That guidance was last updated on 20 September, according to the magazine, so check the FCDO page for any change since the latest strikes.

Timeline: attacks on Saudi airports this week

According to Condé Nast Traveller Middle East, a renewed campaign of missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia began in July, affecting Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Jazan, Najran, Taif and Yanbu. Euronews said the strikes have escalated as Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces pressed an offensive to retake territory around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, through which about 12% of global trade passes.

The Institute for the Study of War, quoted by Euronews, said the Houthis believe they can “maximise Saudi economic costs” by striking civilian infrastructure such as oil facilities and airports. The sequence below draws on the sources named in this article.

What to do before you fly to or through Riyadh

Start with your airline, not the airport. King Khalid airport itself asked passengers on Thursday to “contact their airlines directly and check their flight status before proceeding to the airport”, according to Euronews. Check again on the day you travel, because the cancellation figures are a snapshot from Thursday morning.

Next, read the FCDO’s Saudi Arabia page, since the guidance reported by Condé Nast Traveller Middle East may have changed, and subscribe to the embassy’s alerts. Then check your travel insurance. The FCDO warns that authorities may temporarily close airports near the Yemen border, and that British nationals in the Middle East should be prepared for cancellations and periodic airspace closures.

If your carrier has suspended a route, ask about rebooking or a refund before you pay for alternatives. Find out where you would shelter in your hotel. If an alert sounds, Saudi Civil Defence advises staying indoors, away from windows and glass, and not gathering to watch or film an incident.

Your questions answered

Is Riyadh airport open?

None of our sources says it has closed, but it is badly disrupted. Al-Monitor reported 41% of Thursday’s scheduled flights cancelled and 24% delayed, and the airport asked passengers to contact their airlines before travelling. Check your flight directly with your airline.

Has an aircraft been destroyed at Riyadh airport?

InsideFlyer reported on 8 October that a Saudia A320 was destroyed, citing images first published by paddleyourownkanoo.com. It said it was unclear whether the cause was a direct hit or interception debris, and that Saudi authorities had issued no official statement. We have not seen the report confirmed by Saudi authorities or Saudia.

Is it safe to fly to Saudi Arabia right now?

The FCDO does not advise against travel to most of the kingdom, including Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla, according to Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. The south is more serious, with advice against all or all but essential travel near the Yemen border. Whether to go is your decision, but it should rest on the latest official advice, your airline’s position and your insurer’s terms.

Is Riyadh currently under attack?

Euronews reported that witnesses heard several explosions across Riyadh on Thursday morning, and the coalition said it intercepted two missiles fired at the capital. The Houthis have claimed repeated attacks on Saudi airports in recent days. Check official alerts close to departure, because the situation can change quickly.