EditionININUSGCCEnglishEnglishहिन्दीमराठीಕನ್ನಡதமிழ்বাংলাമലയാളംతెలుగుગુજરાતીWeatherSign InTOIToday's ePaperLiveNewsIndia NewsAir India Delhi-Riyadh flight returns after Houthi attack on Saudi airport; flights ops suspended till October 10TrendingCBSE Date SheetPM ModiDilip GhoshParvesh VermaDhruv RatheeStock Market TodayCongress ProtestRajpal YadavCEC ProtestRahul Gandhi FIRCBSE Date SheetPM ModiDilip GhoshParvesh VermaDhruv RatheeStock Market TodayCongress ProtestRajpal YadavCEC ProtestRahul Gandhi FIRCBSE Date SheetPM ModiDilip GhoshParvesh VermaDhruv RatheeStock Market TodayCongress ProtestRajpal YadavCEC ProtestRahul Gandhi FIRAir India Delhi-Riyadh flight returns after Houthi attack on Saudi airport; flights ops suspended till October 10Edited by: Ayush Pandey / TIMESOFINDIA.
COM / Updated: Oct 08, 2026, 19:19 ISTCommentsShareAaText SizeSmallMediumLargePrint Air India Delhi-Riyadh flight returns after Houthi attack on Saudi airport NEW DELHI: An Air India flight from Delhi to Riyadh is currently returning to Delhi after Houthi attacks on airports in Saudi Arabia left one person dead and eight injured, according to the latest information.Air India and Air India Express have suspended their operations to and from Riyadh until October 10, 2026, PTI reported citing Air India officials.
What happened
The turnaround comes amid heightened concerns over safety in Saudi airspace following Houthi attacks targeting airports in the country, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The detail
In a separate attack on King Khalid International Airport, one person was killed and eight others were injured, according to Saudi authorities cited by the BBC. The Houthi group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, with its military spokesperson Yahya Saree saying the group targeted Saudi airports using ballistic missiles and drones.
The wider picture
India on Thursday condemned the attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable”. “India condemns the attacks over the past few days targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries,” the MEA said. “The targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable.
What comes next
We express our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. We wish speedy recovery for those injured. According to Saudi authorities cited by the BBC, attacks on the two airports over two days killed three people and injured 36 others.
Additional context
Two people were killed and 28 wounded in an attack on Abha International Airport, while one person was killed and eight injured in the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The latest attacks come amid renewed fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the attacks were carried out in “response to the Saudi aggression against our country”, claiming that Saudi Arabia had conducted “60 airstrikes and missile attacks in the past 24 hours”.
Analysis
The Houthi group also issued a “last warning” to global airlines operating flights through Saudi airspace, saying the area had become a “theater for our military operations”. Saree claimed that a ballistic missile targeting King Khalid International Airport “struck its target with precision and caused the disruption of airport operations.
Reactions
”“We reiterate our call and warning "for the last time" to all global airlines regarding the consequences of continuing to operate flights in Saudi airspace, which has become a theater for our military operations,” Saree said. Join conversationShare your thoughts in the commentsBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe added that airspace over the “sacred areas” in Mecca and Medina was exempt from the warning.
Developments
The US Mission in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday also urged American citizens to exercise heightened vigilance amid the Houthi threats, warning that the situation could lead to flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions. Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world.
Developments · 2
His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.
Developments · 3
End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosHot PicksCBSE Date SheetGeorgia Medical Degree RowAparna JhaStock market crashH-1B ProgramRBI Repo Rate HikeNana PatekarWeather tomorrowUS Marines in JapanAmazon PrimeTop TrendingUtah Jazz InjuryTravis Kelce Garage BeerOdell Beckham JrUPI MDR ChargesUS Iran WarINDIA Bloc ProtestBengaluru CJP ProtestCBSE DatesheetNana Patekar DeathAEW Pac DeathTired of too many ads?
Developments · 4
go ad free nowTrending StoriesIn IndiaEntire WebsiteBajrang dal says no volunteers to be mobilised at Jantar Mantar on October 10India’s data silos cost up to 7% of welfare spending, threaten AI push: Report'Dhappa' gets a Day 3 twist as police allow Rahul, INDIA bloc MPs to protest at Raj GhatAir India Delhi-Riyadh flight returns after Houthi attack on Saudi airport; flights ops suspended till october 10Centre to unveil AI regulation roadmap within a month; industry to shoulder safety responsibilityEvening news wrap: Nana Patekar passes away, stock market crash, Rahul Gandhi's Day 3 protest and moreDelhi liquor shops to remain closed on Oct 9-10 amid ‘prevailing’ situationCBI busts multi-state IBPS exam impersonation racket; CGST inspector among 4 arrestedDelhi Police crime branch registers FIR to probe those behind July 20 CJP protest violence'Will be doing injustice to my alliance partners': Chirag Paswan says his party has identified 'A' category seats for UP pollsCookie Recipe Funds Lunches: Donna Kelce shares family favorite on mugs; fundraiser clears lunch debtNSW protects first pink lakes: governments buy Pulgamurtie StationMahomes Tops PFF Rankings: Chiefs QB stays No.
Developments · 5
1 after 4-0 start; tweaks deep-ball approachJohn Paul DeJoria’s Texas ranch sold for $6.
Developments · 6
93 million; 120 exotic animals includedAnne Carson wins Nobel Prize in Literature 2026: How the Canadian poet turned classical Greek into contemporary literature'Driven by political interests': 42 ex-judges back CEC in open letter amid protestsSavannah James Money Mistakes: reveals painful investing loss; faces backlash over spending with friendsStanford’s 20-year blood-cancer therapy treats first commercial patient; trial found 78% free of GVHDDoorDash driver in Maryland crashes during delivery, still arranges for customer to collect foodDHS proposes major OPT fee for foreign students, citing US worker protection and visa fraudTired of too many ads?
Developments · 7
go ad free nowDaily PuzzlesConnectThe Perfect TracePlay Now Loop The LoopPuzzle CircuitPlay Now Daily CrosswordSpecial puzzlePlay Now Explore More PuzzlesExplore Every CornerAcross The GlobeCarlie Irsay Gordon Net WorthVaibhav SooryavanshiPatrick Mahomes ContractNana PatekarDonna KelceKrishnamachari SrikkanthTravis Kelce FoundationCEC ProtestTom BradyRussia Ukraine WarSaudi Arabia Airport AttackDhruv RatheePatrick and Brittany FundingPM ModiAnne CarsonJon RahmCaitlin ClarkNata Patekar DeathFrance Protest 2026Josh Allen DonationStock Market TodayJake PaulBengaluru Chappal ProtestRBI Rate HikeRahul GandhiPatrick Mahomes MomAyesha CurryJason KelceKarnataka High CourtCEC ProtestAbout usCreate Your Own AdTerms of Use and Grievance Redressal Policy Privacy policyAdvertise with usRSSNewsletterFeedbackePaperContact UsEditorial PolicyLiving and EntertainmentCricbuzzLifestyleNewspaper SubscriptionFood NewsTVTimes PrimeTravel DestinationsWhats HotETimesTimes PetsServicesBreaking NewsTimes MobileGadgets NowCity NewsWork with UsColombiaTOI AutoLuxury TOI HomesTOI Home & DecorEcopreneurWellnessAIQHot on the WebNana Patekar Death NewsNana Patekar Passes AwayShraddha KapoorKiara AdvaniRajpal YadavVirat KohliGene HackmanZendayaDrishyam 4Halle BerryPaul WalkerNana Patekar Last RitesDrishyam 3 Box Office CollectionNana Patekar WifeTravis BarkerTravis KelceMel GibsonJennifer LopezDolly PartonHanuman Ansh CollectionEllen DeGeneresDionne WarwickThe Paradise Movie ReviewHanuman Ansh Movie ReviewSanjay DuttSonu NigamRaju KherBaby NamesVietnam Cambodia TourHoroscope TodayIndia Powerus AgreementAir Force DayEnemy PropertyCumulative Matrimonial ConductApple iPhone CompensationVoltas AC CompensationIAF 94th AnniversaryFPV DronesChina US F-35 Stealth FighterChang'E-6 SoilRarest Rattlesnake BreedCaptions For Instagram PostsTrending TopicsOil Prices TodaySaurav DasNana PatekarNana Patekar DeathIndian RupeeIndia Bloc SIR ProtestNoida SuicideNana Patekar Last VideoSaurav DasUS MortgageRussia Gas ExportsChennai AccidentMadurai SuicideNoida Road RageDelhi Barapulla ProjectBJD Odisha BandhShailesh KulkarniMumbai TrafficBombay High CourtGuwahati MurderMumbai SuicideDelhi AccidentPriyanka GandhiMad Sandhu MurderTN Dementia CasesWeather ForecastDelhi Airport Drone SeizedGulzar Singh CaseJaipur Live in MurderMangalore refinery blastJeff BezosJamie DimonChatGPT Teen RiskHubSpot LayoffsClaude Haiku 5.
Local impactFollow how this story develops and what it means for you.
Source: Air India Delhi-Riyadh flight returns after Houthi attack on Saudi airport (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) · Oct 8, 2026
What to do next
- Read more about this topic on LYVGO.
- See related stories from the same desk.
- Follow this developing story for the latest updates.

































































Comments