Brief
Explosions heard at Riyadh airport as flights halted
A large blast and several smaller explosions were heard at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Thursday, a day after an earlier attack killed one person.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Several explosions were heard in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on Thursday, including a large blast at King Khalid International Airport, a witness told the Associated Press, a day after the kingdom said an earlier attack killed one person and wounded others.
What happened
The witness, speaking anonymously, said the blast was followed by fire and smoke visible around the airport. Flightradar24 reported the airport was "closed again" on X, noting the last landing occurred more than 80 minutes earlier and the last take‑off over 90 minutes earlier. Outgoing flights were halted and passengers were instructed to leave checked‑in luggage behind and evacuate.
What the reports add
The Associated Press noted that the cause of the blasts was not immediately known and that no group had claimed responsibility. It mentioned that Iran‑backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have repeatedly claimed attacks against Saudi airports, military and oil facilities in recent days, and that the explosions caused crude oil prices to jump.
What was said
The witness, who could not be identified, described the smoke and the deployment of fire and ambulance crews. No official statements were quoted in the report.
How it came about
These explosions follow a series of Houthi‑linked attacks on Saudi targets, including missile strikes near Riyadh airport on 19 September and an intercepted ballistic missile on 20 September, as reported in earlier Felo News coverage.
Key facts
- Multiple explosions, including a large blast, were heard at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 8 Oct 2026. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Flightradar24 indicated the airport was closed, with the last landing over 80 minutes ago and the last take‑off over 90 minutes ago. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- No group claimed responsibility, but Houthi rebels have previously claimed attacks on Saudi airports. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “Explosions are heard in the Saudi capital as Riyadh airport is reported closed”
