An explosion at Riyadh International Airport on October 10, 2023, resulted in injuries to several passengers and staff. Eyewitnesses reported seeing several injured individuals on the ground following the explosion. In response to the incident, more than a dozen ambulances were quickly dispatched to the scene.
Details of the Incident and Its Consequences
The incident occurred at a time when Saudi Arabia is facing an escalation of missile attacks from the Houthi group in Yemen. This airport had previously been targeted twice earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to others, and causing serious damage to an aircraft.
Flight tracking site flightradar24 reported that all flights to Riyadh have either been diverted or canceled. At one point, only a single helicopter was observed flying over the airport. The airport has asked passengers to contact their airlines to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
Impact on International Flights
Kuwait Airways announced that due to the current security situation, it has canceled its flights to and from the Saudi capital. Additionally, Etihad and Qatar Airways similarly canceled several flights between their hubs and Riyadh, with some of these cancellations expected to continue until Monday.
Recent Houthi attacks, ahead of major energy and investment conferences in Riyadh, have led to the suspension and cancellation of services for many airlines to this capital. However, the organizers of these conferences have stated that the programs will continue as scheduled and are working to ensure the safety of participants.
The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a military operation zone. This situation could have serious implications for Saudi Arabia's tourism and air transport industry.
