Srinagar, Oct 09: Saudi pilot Captain Hamoud Ali Al-Kalthami was among three Saudi nationals killed in attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, according to reports by multiple interntional outlets, citing statements from Saudi authorities and the national carrier, Saudia Group.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the attacks targeted airport facilities and an aircraft belonging to Saudia Airlines. Several other people, including Saudi citizens and residents of different nationalities, were injured, with the severity of their injuries ranging from minor to serious, the authority said.
Saudia Group confirmed Captain Al-Kalthami’s death in a statement issued on Friday, expressing condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. The airline also reported damage to one of its aircraft, which was parked at the airport with no passengers on board at the time of the incident, according to reports by Gulf News and Anadolu Agency.
Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attack, which reportedly involved a ballistic missile targeting the Saudi capital’s airport. However, Saudi authorities did not explicitly identify the perpetrators in their initial account of Thursday’s strikes, according to AP and Reuters.
The attacks mark a further escalation in the deteriorating security situation in the region, with Saudi aviation infrastructure facing repeated threats amid renewed fighting involving the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Saudi authorities said emergency response teams acted immediately after the attacks and that airport operations and air traffic had returned to normal by Thursday evening. Meanwhile, international airlines introduced temporary flight suspensions to Riyadh amid heightened security concerns, Reuters reported.
