Indian carriers, including budget airlines Air India Express and Akasa Air, alongside full-service carrier Air India, have announced an immediate suspension of all scheduled flight operations to and from Riyadh until at least Saturday, October 10, 2026. The precautionary groundings come in the wake of escalating regional hostilities after Yemen-based Houthi militants launched coordinated ballistic missile and armed drone strikes targeting airport infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh experienced temporary operational halts after explosions were reported near the perimeter and plumes of smoke were observed rising from the tarmac, prompting international aviation operators to reroute or freeze flights to guarantee passenger and crew safety.

Mid-Air U-Turns and Emergency Operational Adjustments

The abrupt security crisis triggered immediate mid-air diversions across South Asian and Middle Eastern flight corridors. An Air India service operating flight AI2243 from New Delhi to Riyadh was already cruising southward over the Arabian Sea when airspace alerts were issued, forcing the pilots to execute a mid-air U-turn and return safely to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Akasa Air issued a customer advisory stating that commercial flights to the Saudi capital remain temporarily grounded through October 10 while aviation security authorities evaluate route viability. IndiGo also altered its Riyadh schedules, providing full refunds and flexible rebooking options to impacted travelers. The disruption follows similar actions by global operators, including the Lufthansa Group, which suspended its services to the Saudi capital through mid-October.

Casualties Reported as Houthi Militants Target Civilian Infrastructure

The current wave of aviation cancellations follows back-to-back aerial attacks targeting both King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia. Official statements from Saudi authorities confirmed that the strikes claimed one life and left eight individuals injured in Riyadh, alongside damage recorded at Abha. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the barrage, stating that the faction utilized long-range ballistic missiles and suicide drones. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned the assaults, stating that targeting civilian transport infrastructure is completely unacceptable while expressing steadfast solidarity with the government and citizens of Saudi Arabia.

Indian Embassy Issues Advisory and 24×7 Helpline in Riyadh

With an estimated 2.6 million Indian expatriates residing across Saudi Arabia, the Embassy of India in Riyadh moved swiftly to issue a comprehensive public safety advisory. The diplomatic mission urged Indian nationals to remain vigilant, stay indoors during alerts, avoid approaching damaged areas, and refrain from circulating unverified videos on social media networks. The embassy confirmed that its 24×7 Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra helpline (8002471234) is fully active to assist stranded passengers and distress callers, while consular operations in Riyadh and Jeddah continue to function normally. Airline desks in India have advised Gulf-bound passengers to verify real-time flight statuses before traveling to regional departure terminals.