Saudia A320 Destroyed at Riyadh Airport: Captain Among Three Killed
A Saudia Airbus A320 has been destroyed at King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi attack on 8 October 2026 killed three people.
By The Aviation Hub
4 min read
A Saudia A320 parked at a gate at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh was completely destroyed by fire on Thursday, 8 October 2026, after attacks claimed by Yemen's Houthi movement killed three people, including one of the airline's own captains.
Saudia confirmed the incident in a statement, identifying the pilot killed as Captain Hamoud Ali al-Kalthami. The airline said no passengers were on board the aircraft at the time. Saudi authorities confirmed that all three fatalities were Saudi nationals, with a number of other people injured, including individuals of various other nationalities.
What Happened at King Khalid Airport on 8 October
Saudi authorities confirmed that Houthi missiles targeted King Khalid Airport on two separate occasions on 8 October. The first attack struck airport facilities. The second struck the parked Saudia Airbus A320 at its gate.
Reuters reported that the aircraft caught fire while stationary near a terminal, with sources briefed on the incident telling the agency the damage may have been caused by shrapnel from an intercepted missile or by a direct projectile impact. Saudi officials have not clarified which of those occurred.
Video verified by Reuters showed a large plume of smoke rising from the airport. Images subsequently circulating online show a burned-out fuselage with only remnants of the wings and tail remaining.
The Saudia A320 and the Crew Member Lost
Saudia confirmed that one of its aircraft was damaged while parked, but did not identify the specific airframe or provide further details about the circumstances of Captain al-Kalthami's death. It is not clear from official sources whether he was on board the aircraft or elsewhere at the airport at the time.
Based on the visible damage, the aircraft appears likely to be a hull loss, though no official write-off has been announced. You can find further background on Saudia's fleet using our Aircraft Search.
The Houthi Claim and Saudi Air Defences
Yemen's Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the ballistic missile attack on King Khalid Airport. The Saudi-led coalition stated it had intercepted two ballistic missiles over Riyadh.
A Houthi spokesperson claimed the group "struck its target with precision" using a ballistic missile. Other sources dispute that account, suggesting the aircraft was struck by shrapnel from an interception rather than a direct hit. The precise cause of the fire has not been confirmed by Saudi authorities.
The Houthis also issued a warning directed at international airlines, stating: "We reiterate our call and warning for the last time to all global airlines regarding the consequences of continuing to operate flights in Saudi airspace, which has become a theater for our military operations."
A Pattern of Escalating Attacks
The 8 October attack was not an isolated event. Earlier strikes on Riyadh and Abha airports on 6 and 7 October killed three people and injured 36, according to Saudi aviation authorities. Last month, King Khalid Airport was also targeted in a separate missile attack that caused a large fire in one of the airport's fuel storage tanks, according to Paddle Your Own Kanoo.
On 5 October, Houthi rebels warned airlines that Saudi airspace should be considered unsafe. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed that airport facilities were damaged in the 8 October attack.
Airlines Suspend Riyadh Services
The attack caused severe disruption across King Khalid Airport. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 169 of the airport's 378 scheduled departures on 8 October were cancelled or did not operate.
Multiple international carriers have since suspended services to Riyadh. The Lufthansa Group suspended Riyadh service through 16 October, while Air India and Akasa Air announced cancellations through 10 October, and IndiGo suspended service through 9 October. Etihad and Emirates cancelled Riyadh flights on 9 and 10 October. EgyptAir, Flydubai, Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways and Oman Air also cancelled scheduled services.
Etihad said in a statement that it had cancelled flights to Riyadh on 9 and 10 October due to "operational disruption" at King Khalid Airport.
The UK Foreign Office Response
Late on Thursday, the UK Foreign Office issued a travel alert, warning British nationals to avoid all but essential travel to several provinces in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh. The US State Department had not updated its existing Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisory for Saudi Arabia, which was issued on 15 September, at the time of reporting.
The Bottom Line
A parked airliner has been gutted, a long-serving airline captain has been killed, and King Khalid International Airport has been struck twice in a single day. The incident represents a serious escalation in attacks on Saudi civil aviation infrastructure, and the Houthis have explicitly warned all international carriers that Saudi airspace is a target.
The suspension of services by multiple major carriers reflects the scale of the concern. The precise cause of the fire, and the full circumstances of Captain al-Kalthami's death, remain unconfirmed by official sources. You can track this and other aviation incidents through our Squawk 7700 hub, the live emergency board and incident archive. We will update our coverage if Saudia or Saudi authorities release further information.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
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