Indian Carriers Suspend Riyadh Flights After Houthi Strike Claims Force Air India Aircraft Midair Return An Air India passenger flight en route to Saudi Arabia returned to New Delhi following claims of a Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport. Major Indian airlines have halted services to the capital through October 10. A New Delhi flight operated by Air India headed toward the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh turned back midair following alerts concerning a suspected assault by Houthi insurgents. In the immediate aftermath of the security situation, officials confirmed that both Air India and Air India Express have temporarily grounded all flight operations to and from Riyadh through October 10, 2026. The swift operational suspension emerged as Iran-backed Houthi fighters based in Yemen claimed responsibility for launching a fresh missile strike directly at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Mirroring this cautious stance, other domestic carriers including IndiGo and Akasa Air also cancelled their scheduled flights connecting to the Saudi capital. Riyadh Airport Issues Urgent Travel Warning Following the disruption, authorities running King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh published an official travel advisory for travelers on October 8. The advisory explicitly urged all ticket holders to verify their specific flight status directly with their respective airline operators prior to arriving at airport terminals. Emphasizing airport safety protocol, the facility asked passengers for complete patience and cooperation during the operational adjustments. The Indian Embassy located in Saudi Arabia echoed the notification by posting the travel alert on X, heightening passenger awareness across the regional travel corridor. Air Traffic Stalled for Over an Hour Data provided by global flight tracking platform Flight Radar 24 indicated substantial runway inactivity during the incident. At 4:29 PM Indian Standard Time, the tracking service noted on social media that no arriving aircraft had touched down at Riyadh Airport for the preceding 80 minutes. Simultaneously, airport operations showed that no outbound commercial aircraft had departed from the facility over the past 90 minutes. Although flight movements eventually resumed at the airport later in the day, the rebel group's claims prompted immediate regional aviation safety alarms. Pattern of Regional Cross-Border Operations The Iran-backed Houthi insurgent movement based in Yemen claimed that their forces fired a missile aimed squarely at the King Khalid International Airport infrastructure. The group has historically maintained a posture of claiming targeted strikes against Saudi Arabian military facilities as well as civil aviation hubs. Only a day earlier on Wednesday, the rebels claimed an attack on the airport situated in Yemen's southern port city of Aden. Additionally, the group claimed responsibility for several targeted strikes directed at multiple military installations located in the southwestern territory of Saudi Arabia. What this means for you Passengers traveling between India and Saudi Arabia face immediate cancellations, route disruptions, and rescheduling requirements. • For travelers across India: Flights operated by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Akasa Air to Riyadh remain cancelled or suspended through October 10, 2026. Impacted travelers must connect directly with customer service desks to process refunds or schedule alternative travel dates. • For travelers in Saudi Arabia: Passengers heading to King Khalid International Airport should verify live flight schedules before beginning transit to terminal buildings. Heightened airspace vigilance may lead to gate holding times and schedule delays even after runway operations resume. • Consular monitoring: The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has disseminated safety advisories via official channels to assist affected citizens. Stranded travelers should observe embassy notices for emergency updates and consular guidance. • Regional travel pricing: The sudden grounding of major airline operations on the Riyadh sector may drive up alternative ticket fares across Gulf routes in the short term. Travelers with fixed deadlines will need to explore alternate transit hubs or carrier reassignments. Why this happened The crisis developed after Yemeni Houthi rebels claimed to have targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport with a missile strike. Civil aviation authorities and commercial airlines initiated standard security protocols to avoid airborne risk. • Claimed missile assault: Iran-backed Houthi forces publicly declared that they launched a missile against the Saudi capital's primary international airport. The threat of active missile activity prompted ground controllers and airlines to halt operations immediately. • Airline risk aversion: Air India turned its aircraft back to New Delhi mid-flight and paused operations through October 10, 2026, to protect passengers and flight crews. Commercial carriers routinely freeze regional sectors when claims of ballistic or drone strikes emerge. • Widening tactical claims: The rebel faction had claimed a strike against Aden's airport in Yemen just a day earlier, alongside claims of hitting southwestern Saudi military sites. Ongoing cross-border confrontations in the region continue to trigger unpredictable closures of civilian airspace. Questions & Answers 1. Why did the Air India flight return midair to New Delhi? The aircraft turned back due to safety concerns following Houthi claims of a missile strike targeting Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. 2. Until when have Indian carriers suspended flights to Riyadh? Air India and Air India Express have suspended their Riyadh flight operations through October 10, 2026. 3. Did IndiGo and Akasa Air also cancel their flights? Yes, both IndiGo and Akasa Air also cancelled their scheduled flights to Riyadh following the incident. 4. For how long was flight movement halted at Riyadh Airport? According to Flight Radar 24, no aircraft landed for 80 minutes and no departures took place for 90 minutes before services resumed. 5. What advisory did King Khalid International Airport issue to passengers? The airport advised passengers to contact their airlines directly to verify the status of their flights before traveling to the airport. 6. What other targets did Houthi rebels claim to strike? The rebels claimed strikes on Yemen's Aden airport on Wednesday and against multiple military sites in southwestern Saudi Arabia. https://trendkia.com/en/middle-east/saudi-arabia-men-houthi-hamale-ke-dave-ke-bada-bharatiya-eyaralainsa-ne-rokin-riyadh-ki-uranen-hava-se-vapasa-lauta-vimana-44864 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.