Riyadh Airport Sees Major Disruptions After Air Alert
Riyadh Airport Sees Major Disruptions After Air Alert
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Saudi Civil Defense issued the overnight warnings not only for Riyadh but also for the nearby area of Al-Kharj, and residents reported hearing explosions in the capital.
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Reuters footage showed the smoke rising near what appeared to be a fuel-storage area, with the airport terminal and a highway visible in the foreground, although authorities did not confirm that the airport itself had been hit.
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By later in the day, Flightradar24’s overall disruption rating had eased even though its live departures page still showed dozens of delayed flights and several cancellations, indicating that airlines were working through a substantial backlog.
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One Riyadh resident told AFP, “In the direction of the airport we saw black smoke and fire,” while Flightradar24 recorded both arrival and departure delay indices of 5 on its five-point scale.
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport ground to a halt Saturday after Saudi Civil Defense issued overnight air raid alerts for the capital and nearby Al-Kharj. Residents reported seeing black smoke and flames near the airport, causing The Traveler to rate the disruption at the highest level. Authorities said the threat had passed by late morning, but airlines faced a massive backlog of delayed and canceled flights.
The incident marks the first major air alert for Riyadh since Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia. While smoke was clearly visible near what appeared to be a fuel-storage area, Saudi officials did not confirm whether the airport itself was struck or explain what caused the fire.
Overnight Alert Sends Airport into Crisis Mode
Saudi Civil Defense issued warnings across Riyadh and Al-Kharj around midnight on September 19. Residents heard explosions and saw black smoke rising near the airport terminal and highway. The Traveler reported that flight-tracking service Flightradar24 briefly gave the airport its worst disruption rating on its five-point scale.
Reuters footage captured thick smoke and flames in the direction of the airport, though authorities refused to say whether King Khalid International Airport had been hit. The absence of official confirmation added to passenger confusion during the emergency closure.
Massive Flight Delays Pile Up as Operations Resume
By afternoon, the airport reopened and normal traffic resumed in Riyadh. However, Flightradar24's live departures page showed dozens of delayed flights and several cancellations. Both arrival and departure delay indices hit 5 on the five-point scale, reflecting the scale of disruption.
Airlines scrambled to clear the backlog Saturday. The Traveler reported that travelers faced lengthy rebooking processes as carriers worked through hundreds of affected flights. By evening, the disruption rating eased, but delays persisted well into the day.
Yemen Houthis Intensify Strikes on Saudi Arabia
The alert came amid a sharp escalation in attacks by Yemen-based Houthi forces aligned with Iran. The group has launched repeated strikes at Saudi targets over the past weeks. Saturday's incident was the first major air defense action for Riyadh since the latest round of violence began.
Riyadh resident told AFP: "In the direction of the airport we saw black smoke and fire." The firsthand accounts confirmed the severity of what residents witnessed, even as official details remained sparse about what triggered the alert and the fire.
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