Quick Answer
Air India has suspended all flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, 2026, after an Air India flight from Delhi turned back mid-air amid Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport. Air India Express has halted Riyadh operations as well. India condemned the strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports — which killed three people — as "completely unacceptable."
India's flagship carrier just made a call you don't see often: turn a passenger jet around mid-flight and pull the plug on a capital city. On Thursday evening, Air India suspended all its flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, after an Air India flight en route from Delhi to the Saudi capital was ordered back mid-way following reports of a Houthi attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, according to airline officials quoted by the Economic Times.
Its budget arm, Air India Express, suspended Riyadh operations for the same period. The move came hours after Yemen's Houthi fighters claimed a fresh ballistic missile strike on the airport and warned international airlines, in blunt terms, to stay out of Saudi airspace.
An Air India flight turned back mid-air
The clearest sign of how seriously the threat is being taken: a Delhi-Riyadh flight didn't just get cancelled — it was in the air and came back. Air India officials confirmed to the Economic Times that the flight "reportedly returned mid-way following reports of a Houthi attack on Riyadh airport," and that both Air India and Air India Express "have suspended their operations to and from Riyadh until October 10, 2026."
India has millions of workers in Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh is one of the busiest Gulf corridors for Indian carriers. Suspending the route outright — even for two days — is the kind of decision airlines only make when the risk picture looks genuinely ugly.
Thursday's Houthi claim and the "final warning" to airlines
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed Thursday that the group's forces had fired another ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport, saying it "hit its target accurately" and disrupted airport operations. He gave no details of damage or casualties, and the claim could not immediately be independently verified.
What got the industry's attention was what came with it: Saree issued what he called a "final" warning to international airlines to stop operating flights in Saudi airspace, describing it as a "theatre for our military operations." He exempted the skies over Mecca and Medina — and, in a separate statement reported by News9live, threatened "consequences" for carriers that ignore the warning.
A day earlier, Saree had posted on X: "Our armed forces have just targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile. The strike was accurate, by God's grace, and led to a disruption of air traffic." The Saudi-led coalition said the missile was intercepted, and that it had destroyed the ballistic missile launch platform used in the attack. As with almost everything in this conflict, the two sides' claims cannot be independently verified while the fighting moves this fast.
Three killed in the airport attacks so far
Whatever the truth of Thursday's claim, there is no dispute about this week's earlier attacks. Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority (GACA) confirmed Wednesday that strikes on King Khalid International Airport (October 7) and Abha International Airport (October 6) killed three people and wounded 36, and damaged airport facilities.
At Riyadh's airport, a Sudanese resident was killed and eight people were injured, including five Saudi citizens. At Abha, in the kingdom's south, two female residents — of Moroccan and Algerian nationality — were killed and 28 others were injured. GACA said it was working with the relevant authorities to assess the damage and establish the safety of the facilities.
Thursday itself showed how rattled the capital is. AFP reported multiple blasts heard in Riyadh; diplomats were told to shelter inside their embassies; international schools introduced safety precautions, with one moving children into a basement; and some companies in the business district evacuated staff.
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Riyadh airport flights: the disruption in numbers
Even before Air India's announcement, King Khalid International Airport was struggling. Flightradar24 data cited by GulfBusiness showed 114 delayed departures at the airport as of 12:17pm Saudi time on Thursday — 29 percent of scheduled services — plus another 20 flights cancelled outright, with the average departure delay running at 35 minutes. The cancellations and delays hit domestic and international services alike.
Flight-tracking data showed the last recorded departure from the airport Thursday morning was at 5:55am, with subsequent flights listed as delayed or estimated, and a Turkish Airlines service to Istanbul marked cancelled.
India condemns the Saudi airport attacks
New Delhi didn't wait for the dust to settle. India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attacks Thursday, saying: "India condemns the attacks over the past few days targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries."
"The targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable," the ministry said. "We express our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. We wish speedy recovery for those injured. We express solidarity and stand with the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
The condemnation follows a pattern: India has repeatedly called for dialogue and de-escalation in West Asia and condemned attacks on commercial shipping, civilians and infrastructure across the region, including a recent attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off Oman's coast.
Why it matters
This isn't just an aviation story — it's a measure of how far the Yemen conflict has spilled beyond Yemen's borders. Airlines don't suspend service to a G20 capital lightly; they do it when their safety teams conclude the airspace risk can't be managed. The Houthis have spent months escalating: seizing Yemen's Red Sea coastline, threatening Hormuz shipping, and now repeatedly targeting the airports of a country that is a key node in global energy flows. For the millions of Indian and Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, and for the families of the three people killed this week, the strikes on civilian airports mark a sharp, dangerous turn.
There's a market angle too. Earlier Thursday, oil prices surged above $105 a barrel, partly on the same escalation (read our coverage). Aviation disruption compounds the sense that the Gulf's security architecture is being tested in real time — even as new actors pile in, from Syria weighing troops for Saudi Arabia to the Saudi coalition's strikes on 82 Houthi targets.
What happens next
Three things to watch. First, the deadline: Air India says its suspension runs until October 10 — whether it extends depends on whether the airport stays quiet and whether the Houthis follow through on their threats against airlines. Second, the military picture: the Saudi-led coalition is providing air support for a Yemeni government counter-offensive, and it says it destroyed the launch platform behind the Riyadh strike; if Houthi launches continue anyway, the coalition's interceptions will be stress-tested further. Third, the diplomatic track: the Houthis' warning explicitly put civilian aviation on notice, and more governments may follow India's lead with public condemnations or travel advisories in the coming days.
Key Takeaways
- An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh turned back mid-air Thursday evening, and Air India plus Air India Express suspended all Riyadh flights until October 10, 2026.
- Yemen's Houthis claimed a fresh ballistic missile strike on King Khalid International Airport on Thursday and issued a "final" warning telling international airlines to stop operating in Saudi airspace — claims that could not be independently verified.
- Saudi aviation authorities confirmed that attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports on October 6–7 killed three people and injured 36, damaging airport facilities.
- India's foreign ministry condemned the attacks as "completely unacceptable" and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia's people and government.
- Flightradar24 showed 114 delayed departures and 20 cancellations at Riyadh airport by midday Thursday; blasts were heard across the capital, and diplomats were told to shelter.
- The coalition says it intercepted the missile and destroyed the launch platform in Sanaa; on the ground in Yemen, at least 62 combatants were killed in Wednesday's clashes and the UN says 200,000+ people have been displaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Air India suspend flights to Riyadh?
Air India and Air India Express suspended all operations to and from Riyadh until October 10, 2026, after an Air India flight from Delhi turned back mid-air following reports of a Houthi attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Airline officials confirmed the suspension to the Economic Times on Thursday evening.
What did the Houthis claim about the Riyadh airport attack?
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed Thursday that the group fired a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport, saying it "hit its target accurately" and disrupted operations. It was the second such claim this week. The claims could not be independently verified, and the Saudi-led coalition says the missile was intercepted.
Why are the Houthis warning international airlines?
Saree issued what he called a "final" warning to international airlines to stop operating flights in Saudi airspace, describing it as a "theatre for our military operations," while exempting skies over Mecca and Medina. He separately threatened "consequences" for carriers that ignore the warning, according to News9live.
How many people died in the Saudi airport attacks?
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority confirmed three people were killed and 36 injured in attacks on King Khalid International Airport (October 7) and Abha International Airport (October 6). A Sudanese resident died at Riyadh; two women — Moroccan and Algerian nationals — died at Abha. Both attacks damaged airport facilities.
What has India said about the attacks on Saudi airports?
India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attacks on Abha and Riyadh airports, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure "completely unacceptable" and expressing condolences to victims' families. New Delhi said it stands in solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia.
How badly are Riyadh airport flights disrupted?
Flightradar24 data showed 114 delayed departures (29% of scheduled services) and 20 cancellations at King Khalid International Airport by 12:17pm Saudi time on Thursday, with average delays of 35 minutes. The disruption index hit 4.2 out of 5, reflecting major disruption to domestic and international flights.
Sources
- The Economic Times: Breaking news live updates — Air India flight returns mid-way; Air India and Air India Express suspend Riyadh operations until October 10 (Oct 8, 2026)
- NDTV: Saudi Says 3 Killed In Houthi Attacks On Its Airports As Conflict Deepens (Oct 8, 2026)
- Gulf Business: Riyadh airport flights disrupted as attacks trigger delays, cancellations (Oct 8, 2026)
- News9live: 'Completely unacceptable': India condemns attacks on Saudi airports as blasts hit Riyadh (Oct 8, 2026)
- Aaj English TV: Houthis claim missile strike on Riyadh airport, flights disrupted (Oct 8, 2026)