Air India suspends Riyadh flights after Houthi airport attacks
A Delhi-to-Riyadh flight turned back mid-air as Yemeni rebels warned international airlines to stay out of Saudi airspace.
Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, have suspended all flights to Riyadh until 10 October 2026 after Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed a missile strike on the Saudi capital's main airport.
The decision was brought into sharp relief on Thursday when Air India flight AI2243, heading from Delhi to Riyadh, was forced to turn back. The plane was flying south over Gujarat and heading out over the Arabian Sea when the pilots aborted the journey and returned to Delhi, following reports of the escalating security threat.
Why are flights cancelled?
The suspension follows a claim by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree that the group had hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile, disrupting flight operations.
While the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels stated they intercepted two missiles north of Riyadh, witnesses in the capital reported hearing several loud explosions on Thursday morning. Diplomatic staff in the city were instructed to shelter in place and international schools took safety precautions.
Casualties at Saudi airports
The threat to civil aviation has already turned deadly. Recent drone and missile strikes targeting Saudi airport infrastructure over two days killed three people and injured 36 others, according to figures released by Saudi civil aviation authorities.
A strike at Abha International Airport in the south-west killed Moroccan and Algerian residents and wounded 28 people. Meanwhile, a Sudanese national was killed and eight other people were injured in an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid airport.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the attacks, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure "completely unacceptable" and expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Rebels issue final warning to airlines
The Houthis have warned of further escalation. Saree issued what he called a "last warning" to global airlines, declaring Saudi airspace a "theatre for military operations." He exempted only the airspace over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The US Mission in Saudi Arabia has also advised American citizens to be highly vigilant, warning of potential airspace closures and further flight disruptions.
An Air India Express spokesperson said the airline is offering passengers affected by the cancellations a full refund or a complimentary flight reschedule, and that they are continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Flight suspension date | 10 October 2026 | Air India officials cited by PTI |
| Total casualties from recent airport attacks | 3 dead, 36 injured | Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation |
| Abha airport casualties | 2 dead, 28 injured | Saudi officials cited by Al Jazeera and BBC |
| King Khalid airport casualties | 1 dead, 8 injured | Saudi officials cited by Al Jazeera and BBC |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Riyadh | The Saudi capital where airport strikes were targeted. |
| Houthis | Yemeni rebel group that claimed the missile attacks. |
| Air India | Suspended flights to Riyadh after security threats. |
| Air India Express | Suspended flights to Riyadh and offered refunds to affected passengers. |
