Surveillance footage shows people reacting to smoke during an attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 10, 2026, in this frame from a handout video.
Saudi Ministry of Media | Reuters
The Federal Aviation Administration has told US airlines to be cautious when flying in or around Saudi Arabia following a deadly attack claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, which has closed the airport in the Saudi capital.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, remains closed since Monday following the attacks that began last week. The attack escalated on Saturday, when a projectile hit the passenger terminal at the airport, officials said, killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 300.
Airlines are suspending flights to the airport, some for another week.
Air traffic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 12, 2026.
Source: Flightradar24
The US, Australia and other countries have advised their citizens not to travel to the area.
The FAA late Sunday said pilots should be “extremely cautious” in or around Saudi Arabia “due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity” and navigation systems. It said the threat could be a potential risk “to aircraft at all altitudes.” The FAA warning is in effect until December 10.
Most US airlines do not fly to Saudi Arabia, but the country’s flights and passenger numbers have increased in recent years. The route between Riyadh to Jeddah in the west of the country was the fifth busiest in the world last year, according to aviation data firm OAG.
Delta Air Lines had been scheduled to start the first nonstop flight from Atlanta to Riyadh on October 23 but the operator there said it would delay that service until March.