Riyadh’s international airport remained closed on Sunday after an attack killed 12 people and injured hundreds, while the United States considered whether to join possible Saudi strikes against Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The incident has triggered condemnation from the United Nations and European Union, disrupted international flights and raised concerns about the safety of civilian aviation and energy infrastructure across the region.
What happened at Riyadh airport?
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was still closed a day after the attack. Saudi aviation authorities said 309 people were injured, including some who were critically hurt. The dead included four Saudi nationals and eight foreign nationals, among them an American citizen.
The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Iran-backed Houthis and promised a decisive response. The Houthis subsequently warned airlines, airport workers and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the facilities remained vulnerable to further attacks.
In a separate incident, the coalition said a projectile landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Saturday. The reported incidents have added to concerns about missile and drone threats affecting civilian infrastructure.
Airport closure disrupts flights and travel
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the Riyadh closure had been extended until midnight local time at the beginning of Monday, 12 October. Saudi aviation authorities had not confirmed when normal operations would resume.
Reports indicated that radar and communications equipment may have been damaged and that airport runways required safety assessments before flights could restart. Passengers were advised to check directly with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
Several international carriers changed their schedules:
- Etihad Airways cancelled six Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flights on Sunday and another return service scheduled for Monday.
- Emirates cancelled Riyadh services on Sunday and Monday.
- Lufthansa Group suspended flights to Riyadh through 16 October.
- SriLankan Airlines suspended Riyadh flights until 18 October while safety assessments continued.
The disruption extended beyond aviation. Schools in Riyadh were instructed to move lessons online for the week, according to an email sent to parents under guidance from the Saudi education ministry.
Trump says the US may join Saudi strikes
US President Donald Trump said Washington might participate in Saudi military action against the Houthis, but he did not announce a decision. Asked whether the United States would take part, he said that the administration would consider the possibility.
Trump also said Saudi Arabia could defend itself and described the airport attack as terrible. Any direct US involvement would represent a significant development in the regional security situation, but the source material does not confirm that a decision had been made.
The reported threat has therefore created uncertainty for airlines, travellers and governments monitoring the security of Gulf airspace. The immediate priority remains the assessment of airport facilities and the protection of civilian aviation.
EU and UN condemn attack
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the strike as a dangerous escalation and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. She warned that attacks by Iran-backed groups could push the region into a wider cycle of violence and threaten international transport and energy infrastructure.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack. He said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and called for them to stop immediately.
Qatar described the strike as a violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to civilians and aviation safety. Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, warned that the attacks threatened regional security and made efforts to secure peace in Yemen more difficult.
European aviation safety warning expanded
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency widened its warning covering Saudi airspace on Friday. The agency cited risks to civilian aircraft from missile and drone attacks, air-defence activity and falling debris.
The warning is relevant to airlines operating routes between Europe and the Gulf, although individual carriers remain responsible for their own operational decisions. Flight cancellations and route changes may continue while airports and airspace are assessed.
For European travellers, the practical advice is to confirm flight status with the airline before leaving for an airport and to allow for possible changes to connecting journeys. The situation also matters to European businesses that depend on air cargo, passenger links and stable energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
What happens next?
Several questions remain unresolved. Saudi authorities must determine when King Khalid International Airport can reopen safely, while airlines will decide whether to resume services based on official assessments and their own security procedures.
Washington has not confirmed whether it will participate in Saudi strikes. Further military action could affect regional airspace, commercial aviation and diplomatic efforts related to Yemen.
The wider international response will also be closely watched. The UN envoy has warned that renewed attacks could complicate attempts to pursue peace, while European institutions have focused on protecting civilians and transport infrastructure.
Conclusion
The Riyadh airport closure has become both a serious aviation disruption and a wider regional security crisis. With 12 people dead, hundreds injured and international flights suspended, the immediate priority is restoring civilian safety. The possibility of US military involvement and continuing warnings over Gulf airspace mean airlines, travellers and European authorities will be monitoring developments closely.
