Saudia has confirmed that Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami was killed during Thursday’s attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The airline paid tribute to the captain, acknowledging his service and the lasting impact he had on colleagues throughout his career.
The airline also confirmed that one of its aircraft was damaged while parked on the ground during the attacks. Fortunately, there were no passengers aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident.
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the incident involved two separate attacks. The first targeted airport facilities, while the second struck a Saudia aircraft. Authorities reported that three Saudi citizens were killed, while several other people, including Saudi nationals and foreign residents, were injured.
The attacks followed another wave of strikes targeting Riyadh and Abha airports earlier in the week, which reportedly killed three people and injured 36 others. The Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi targets as the conflict in Yemen continues to intensify.
Saudia said it activated its emergency response procedures and coordinated with relevant authorities to support affected families. The airline added that flight operations at Riyadh Airport had returned to normal by 6 p.m. local time on October 8.
The incident has raised further concerns about the safety of civilian airports and aviation personnel amid escalating regional tensions.
