World · Middle East · 1 day ago
Blast Reported at Riyadh Airport as Flights Are Diverted or Canceled
A loud blast was reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, October 10.
Passengers were evacuated from part of the airport, and flights bound for Riyadh were diverted or canceled.
More than a dozen ambulances were seen heading to the airport, according to witnesses and people briefed on the situation.
Saudi authorities had not publicly explained what caused the blast.
The incident comes amid increased missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group, and the airport had already been attacked twice that week; those attacks killed four people, injured others and badly damaged an aircraft.
Airlines including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways canceled some flights, and the airport advised passengers to check with their airlines before traveling.
Riyadh’s upcoming energy and investment conferences were still planned to go ahead, with organizers saying they were reassuring participants about security.
A loud blast was reported at Riyadh International Airport on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Passengers were evacuated from parts of the airport, and flights to Riyadh were diverted or canceled.
More than a dozen ambulances were seen heading to the airport, according to a witness and sources briefed on the situation.
No official explanation for the blast had been given, and Saudi aviation authorities had not responded to requests for comment.
Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways canceled some flights to and from Riyadh.
- Who
- Passengers, airlines and airport authorities were affected.
- What
- A blast was reported at Riyadh International Airport, prompting evacuations and flight diversions or cancellations.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Riyadh International Airport, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The cause of the blast had not been officially explained.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
security situation
Houthi attacks and attacks in the preceding days led some airlines to suspend or cancel services to Riyadh.
A blast was reported at Riyadh International Airport, and passengers were evacuated from parts of the airport.
Some cancellations by Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways were set to remain in effect.
- Airport
- Riyadh International Airport
- Reported blast
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Airlines canceling flights
- Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways
- Ambulances
- More than a dozen were reported heading to the airport
- Earlier attacks
- Houthi attacks were reported on October 8 and in the preceding days
Sources
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