Surveillance camera footage shows people reacting amid smoke at the moment of the attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 10, 2026. This frame is from a handout video.
Saudi Media Ministry | Reuters
The Federal Aviation Administration has told U.S. airlines to use caution when flying in and around Saudi Arabia after the Saudi capital’s airport was shut down following a deadly attack by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, remained closed as of Monday after a strike that began last week. The attack escalated on Saturday when a projectile hit the airport’s passenger terminal, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300, officials said.
Airlines suspended flights to the airport, with some operating for the rest of the week.
Air traffic status for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 12, 2026.
Provided by: Flightradar24
The United States, Australia and other countries advised their citizens not to travel to the region.
The FAA said late Sunday that pilots should “exercise caution” in or around Saudi Arabia due to “ongoing military activities” and flight safety risks associated with navigation systems. It said the threat could pose a potential risk “to aircraft at all altitudes.” The FAA warning is in effect until December 10th.
Most U.S. airlines do not fly to Saudi Arabia, but the country’s flight and passenger numbers have increased in recent years. The route between Riyadh and Jeddah in the country’s west was the fifth busiest in the world last year, according to aviation data firm OAG.
delta airlines was scheduled to launch its first nonstop flight from Atlanta to Riyadh on Oct. 23, but the airline announced Monday that it was postponing that service until March.
