Houthi missile attack damages aircraft at Riyadh airport

A plane was hit by a projectile during a Houthi missile attack in Saudi Arabia on October 8, 2026, causing severe damage to a Saudia Airlines aircraft parked at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. The aircraft caught fire amid a series of attacks on the kingdom. Three sources briefed on the incident informed Reuters that shrapnel from an interception or another projectile struck the commercial aircraft, resulting in significant damage. No passengers were believed to be on board at the time, although the sources could not rule out injuries linked to the incident. Footage showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the airport following the attack. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that a ballistic missile had caused the damage, but did not provide evidence for their claim. The group also warned workers to avoid Saudi energy plants, indicating they would be targeted. A witness reported hearing several explosions across the Saudi capital, including a large blast at the international airport. In the aftermath, hundreds of flights to and from Riyadh were canceled, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. This violence followed a day after Saudi Arabia reported one person killed in an attack on Riyadh airport and two others killed in a separate strike on Abha airport in the southwest. Reuters reported that the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen claimed to have destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh and another heading towards Khamis Mushait, which hosts a major airbase. Lufthansa and Air India suspended flights to Riyadh following the Houthi attacks. Saudi officials stated that debris from an intercepted missile struck a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh. The attacks caused widespread disruption across the capital, with several multinational companies in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District advising staff to work from home after loud booms were heard on Thursday morning. Some schools instructed parents to shelter in place, although authorities did not issue a public alert. The Houthis have threatened Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure, warning workers to stay away from oil facilities they consider targets. By 3 PM GMT on Thursday, almost half of departures from Riyadh airport had been canceled, according to data from aviation analytics company Cirium. An additional 31 cancellations were expected across Saudi airports on Friday, while Riyadh airport advised passengers to contact their airlines for flight status before traveling. This escalation comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen, where the Houthis have seized territory along the Red Sea coast in recent weeks, including areas around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Saudi-backed forces launched a counterattack this week and regained some areas around the strait, while the Houthis have also made gains elsewhere in the country. The renewed conflict has displaced 200,000 people.